One of the reasons the football ground received the funding level it did (originally over half million pounds) was on the promise that the rest of the land owned by SBC but not within the new ground was going to accommodate 4 mini football pitches. For the first couple of years there were no pitches and over the last couple of years there has been two. This new application doesn't actually affect these pitches, however, the proposed new road and Streetscene potentially moving onto that land would leave little room for mini pitches. In essence they would argue that the new plastic pitch alleviates the need for any smaller grass pitches. That said the money was originally given to build the ground based on these mini pitches. From our club's point of view, it doesn't matter what the football club and SBC cook up between them...our beef is that it will be one rule for one and one for another based upon people's agendas....mainly money one would suspect. Sport England and the council will end up doing what suits the council - this can be seen with St Leonards RUFC being kicked off the land originally, the athletics being kicked off Rowley park, and other current projects in the town. Its cash cow for one and turnips for everyone else.
Number crunching
Its 313 days since our application went in, this new application will be determined within 60
When the new 3G pitch gets built along with associated works over 1.75million pounds will have been spent on the football at Riverway via grant aid and taxes