From thisiscornwall.co.uk Thursday, 23 December 2010:

Rugby club's future depends on deal with supermarket giant

Thursday, December 23, 2010

HAYLE Rugby Football Club's dream of building state-of-the-art facilities on a new site is dependant on the success of a supermarket application for the Memorial Park ground.

 

Rugby club's future depends on deal with supermarket giant

The new clubhouse would have a 150-seat covered stand.

HAYLE Rugby Football Club's dream of building state-of-the-art facilities on a new site is dependant on the success of a supermarket application for the Memorial Park ground.

The club has now submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council for the relocation of the club to Carwin Rise, some 500 metres from the current location. But chairman Steve Benney has admitted that without funding from Asda the club would have to stay where it is. He said: "We would need it (funding from Asda) to secure our future for many years to come. If it doesn't happen we will continue as we are."

On the new site Hayle RFC proposes to build a 1200sq m clubhouse and two senior floodlit pitches with separate training zones and junior playing areas. The clubhouse would have a 150 seat covered stand, two lounge bars/function rooms, balcony terrace, kitchen facilities, club and committee rooms, gymnasium and changing rooms and match officials' facilities.

There would also be room to expand should the club choose to do so in the future. Mr Benney said: "We believe that the new ground at Carwin Rise, if secured, will give Hayle RFC the best rugby facilities in the county and make us the envy of other clubs.

"Rugby is an exciting and healthy sport and one which members would like to see taken up by more young people in the Hayle area. The club has, like most rugby clubs, struggled financially in recent years and we find repairs of our ground difficult to afford. Working with Asda gives us a one-off opportunity to secure the future of the club for our membership and of rugby in this part of west Cornwall in the long term."

It is understood that Asda's proposal will be considered by Hayle Town Council and then Cornwall Council in the new year, along with other supermarket applications.

It also anticipated only one supermarket will achieve consent.