Bridgnorth Rugby Club eyes move to new site
Bridgnorth Rugby Club today unveiled £1.5 million plans to move out of the town to a new, purpose-built ground.
The club has been offered favourable terms on the Swancote Country Club – about a mile from Bridgnorth on the A454.
Under its plans, large parts of the 28-acre site would be demolished to make way for a new ground, clubhouse and leisure facilities.
Leaders of the 52-year-old rugby club said the move would secure its long-term survival.
They say they are acting out of frustration after a two-year battle with the town council over parking, constant worries about floods and a lack of space to build on the thriving junior section.
The plans, which have been drawn up by Wolverhampton-based architects Tweedale, include eight pitches, changing rooms, a bar, function room, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, beauty therapy rooms, a soft play area and a 500 capacity spectators stand overlooking the main pitch.
The Swancote plan is one of five options for the future of the club which is currently based at The Bull, on Bridge Street, and plays matches and trains at the Edgar Davies Ground in Severn Park.
The other options include remaining at The Bull, moving the club house to the current pitches, buying land at Tasley to create a new club, or pursuing an option to lease the Friars.
Club chairman Peter Parkes told a meeting of more than 260 members this week that after months of discussions and investigative work, the preferred option was the development of a new ground at Swancote.
Work could begin by the end of the year if members back the plans. He added: "For this plan to come to fruition, everybody at the club needs to be on side."
