Bridgnorth Rugby Club bosses reassure town

Peter Parkes, chairman of Bridgnorth Rugby Club, said the go-ahead to transform the former Swancote Country Club into a rugby ground was welcome news – but in the immediate future only minis and juniors with the club would be moved there from the club's current home at Severn Park.

Pitches

The green light was given to an application to create rugby pitches, building stands, a club house, new changing facilities, club administration facilities, a gym and outdoor pool at the Swancote site by Shropshire Council on Monday.

However, Mr Parkes said for now a new club house was not on the cards but only a future option, and at present seniors and older juniors will be staying put at Severn Park.

Club leaders have previously said the new site would ensure its long-term survival and provide better facilities for the club, which is rapidly expanding.

Mr Parkes said: "There are two parts to the plans, one is for change of use for the (Swancote) site – for the minis and juniors, aged from under sixes to 14.

"It will give mini and juniors better facilities, better parking and increased play area and allow them to expand, while taking the pressure of Severn Park.

"It's because we have run out of room at Severn Park," he said.

"The second part of the application is a new club house.

"But the only reason we applied for that was so that it will allow the existing derelict leisure facilities building to be demolished." He said the existing building had to go before any possible new club house would be allowed at the site, as it is in a green belt area where building is restricted.

"That will allow us to consider a club house in the years to come, but it's probably a long way off yet," he said.

"We are not looking to fundraise for a new facility, but we are looking to support the minis and juniors at Swancote," he added.

He said there were no current plans to move the seniors or older juniors from Severn Park.

The club will now be putting together a "phased plan" for how things will develop at Swancote in the coming weeks and months, he said.

It is hoped that sessions for junior members of the rugby club could be run from Swancote as early as next season.

The club has been plagued with problems at its current site, including regular flooding, which has left the pitches unplayable, issues with the lack of parking at Severn Park and at the Edgar Davies Ground, and restricted access.

The club currently has about 300 youngsters aged between four and 12 in its mini, micro and junior teams.

These teams are alongside the club's five adult squads and ladies' teams, with plans to bring in a mini ladies' team in the near future.