Sevenoaks Rugby Club has launched a joint venture project with the Town Council to build a full sized state of the art 3G pitch at Knole Paddock, to be owned by the Council.
Subject to Planning Permission, the newly designed all-weather synthetic grass surface will be similar to that used at Saracens Rugby, updated to incorporate the latest technology, and will be suitable for many different sports and junior activities.
Sevenoaks Rugby Chairman Trevor Nicholson welcomed the new accord, the result of more than three years collaboration and planning:
"We have worked with our landlords STC on several improvements to Knole Paddock recently, including the construction of the Bradshaw-Pearl viewing balcony, and draining and enlarging the adjacent pitch to provide a fantastic new 1st XV facility.
"We welcome this next step to a 3G pitch, which will be shared with the whole sporting and educational community. Many local schools and clubs that invariably have to cancel activities during winter months due to wet weather have already said that they would be very keen to use it.
"For the rugby club the main beneficiaries would be our 835 juniors, and senior training; how much it will be used for 1st XV matches is yet to be decided."
The initiative was given a unanimous go-ahead at last night’s STC Open Spaces Committee meeting, when Chairman Cllr. Parry asked members to vote on the recommendations following extensive public consultations from which only one minor objection was raised.
STC Chief Executive Linda Larter then announced that an allocation of £250,000 would be made from the Sports Strategy fund towards the £750,000 cost, and it is hoped that grants will be available from bodies such as Cory Environmental Trust, Sport England and the Rugby Football Union.
Mrs Larter also outlined a new ‘Cash for Community’ fundraising initiative to be launched in the New Year, through which it is hoped members of the public will donate to three major local projects:
• The Stag Community Arts Centre
• 3G Football Pitch at Greatness Park
• 3G Rugby Pitch at Knole Paddock.
TO ALL MEMBERS: - WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR SAY ON THE LOCATION OF THE FUTURE 3G PITCH
There are four possible locations for the pitch:
- the cabbage patch (the least contentious as floodlights are already there);
- either of the 1st XV or 2nd XV pitches; or,
- the football pitch (which is nearer the clubhouse).
Let us know what you think by emailing your thoughts to our Chairman, Trevor Nicholson:
tn@landequity.co