Lincoln Rugby Club Granted Planning Permission for Lodge Lane Site

Last night West Lindsey District Council's Planning Committee granted Lincoln Rugby Football Club Planning Permission to build a new clubhouse and playing area on thirty-two acres of land on Lodge Lane, Nettleham.

The club, ten years ago, somewhat reluctantly, came to the decision that the facilities at the Lindum Sports Club, off Wragby Road, Lincoln were no longer large enough to cope with a rapidly growing number of players, particularly in the mini and junior sections. The club is naturally delighted after years of difficulties and frustrations to have finally got the go ahead. Once new facilities are ready for use the club will be in a position to achieve its aims of increasing participation across all age groups, introducing girls' and women's rugby and becoming a for in rugby in the area.

The proposed clubhouse will have six changing rooms as well as a bar and social areas.  The playing area will allow for up to four full size pitches and seven smaller junior and mini pitches.  In the summer months it is hoped that the facility will be used for Rugby League as well as tag rugby and rounders.  The clubhouse, which is designed to cater for the disabled, has been identified as a potential centre for 'boccia', a game similar to indoor bowls suitable for the disabled.  The club is keen to work closely with the local community.

Above: Mr. Bill Green, Prsident
of  Lincoln Rugby Club.

Club President, Mr. Bill Green, said:

"I am delighted with this decision which will allow us to develop a facility to meet our current and future needs.  It will allow us to introduce girls' and women's rugby as well as resolving the situation where we have turned players away in some of our junior and mini age groups due to lack of space.  We are looking forward to working closely with West Lindsey District Council and other bodies to develop participation in active sport in the area."

If everything goes to plan the club hopes to open the facility in January 2012, providing that a gap in funding can be filled.

Nettleham Parish Council had previously decided to object to the proposals and Cllr. John Evans represented the council at last night's meeting.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr. Evans said the proposal would be 'overwhelming and disproportionate' for the village.

Cllr. Evans said:

"The issue of congestion and safety through the middle village has been dismissed by the planning officer's report.

"We live there and we know how bad the traffic can get, even when it's not time for the school run."

 He summerised his thoughts following the meeting last night, via email, saying:

"I had five minutes to put the parish council view, and provided as much supporting planning related evidence as I could. We also had two members of the public addressing the issue and they were both against. The planning issue which I raised was not addressed, and the traffic issue was debated but finally dismissed, clearly the opinion of the Highways Dept counts for nothing."

Cllr. Evens noted that both of Nettleham's District Councillors supported the application and said:

"The only person to vote against the application was the councillor for Sudbrooke".

The application was carried by six votes in favour to one vote against.

You can watch the meeting of West Lindsey District Council's Planning Committee here.

District Councillor Will Not Represent Villagers At Crucial Planning Meeting

A West Lindsey District Councillor has undoubtedly angered residents from across Nettleham by refusing to take place in the 'debate and vote' of tonight's Planning Committee Meeting.

Cllr. Malcolm Leaning, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward), astonished many local residents last week by declaring his support for the Lincoln Rugby Club's proposals for Lodge Lane, Nettleham.

Now, Cllr. Leaning has left hopeful residents disappointed as he has decided not to take part in the debate and vote on the matter. Whilst those opposed to the development will no doubt be pleased.

Cllr. Leaning explained that

"[R]egarding the advice I had given the committee in December when I had anticipated a much earlier decision which would have been taken in my absence. Although I had not pre-determined any decision, as I had said I was awaiting reports, she [Rachel North] feels it would be safer if I just addressed the committee as ward member then temporally leave the meeting while the debate and vote takes place."

Cllr. Leaning at the beginning of the year was on holiday, abandoning his responsibilities to local electors, on a four month luxury cruise and had not expected to be in the country when the matter came before councillors.

District Councillor Says 'Yes' to Nettleham Rugby Development

Cllr. Malcolm Leaning, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward) has given his support for planning permission to be granted to the Lindum Rugby Club's proposed development on Lodge Lane, Nettleham.

With a meeting of the West Lindsey District Council's Planning Committee only days away, Cllr. Leaning has stunned local residents opposed to the plans by endorsing the proposed scheme, recommended for approval in the officer's report, which states:

"Anticipating that a decision on the application could well be made whilst he was going to be away, Councillor Leaning has explained he is fully aware of the lengthy discussions which have taken place between the Club and the parish council and at public meetings. He has received messages of support and objections. Whilst he would have preferred to have the benefit of a full report from officers, as this was not available at the time he decided on the basis of what information was available on balance to support the proposal. In so doing he pointed out that Mulsanne Park has no spare capacity for pursuits other than those which take place there at present and this will result in a greater choice for residents, and that Nettleham as a community tries to cater for all age groups in its population."

The meeting of the Planning Committee to discuss the planning application will take place on Wednesday, 28th July at 6:30pm at the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard Gainsborough and it is widely expected that planning permission will be granted.

Work to Start on Market Rasen pool

Work is set to start on building a swimming pool in Market Rasen before the end of the year.

Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) told a meeting of the Full Council last night that contractors would be on site during the autumn and construction would take 18 months. Cllr. Duguid said:

"This will mean that during the summer of 2012 – Olympic year – Market Rasen will have the swimming pool that has been wanted for so long."

The project has been costed at £2.4 million and the 25 metre four-lane pool will feature a dome which will allow both indoor and outdoor use. There will also be changing facilities, a gym and a wet play area for children.

Right: This is the style of pool which will be build on Willingham Road, Market Rasen.

The site for the development is on Willingham Road on land currently occupied by the Market Rasen and Louth Rugby Club.

Cllr. Duguid said: "We have come to an agreement with the rugby club that they will move to a site on the other side of the road where there will be a new club house with changing facilities, three pitches – one floodlit – a training pitch and car parking. A funding bid has been made to the Rugby Football Union to help with the costs.

"This is what makes this project so exciting – not only does the town get a fantastic new pool but the excellent rugby club, which has a thriving junior and senior membership – gets wonderful new facilities."

Peter Dixon, President of Market Rasen and Louth Rugby Club said:

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the rugby club which is currently enjoying great playing success. The new facilities will allow the club to build on that success in future years. Rugby has always been a major part of the town’s sporting scene and the club is proud to play a part in this tremendous development for the people of Market Rasen and the surrounding area."

Cllr. Duguid said the whole development, which is subject to contract, was great news for Market Rasen.

"Local people and visitors will have a wonderful swimming pool, gym and rugby facilities in the same area as golf, the race course and Willingham Woods; it will be a splendid sporting and leisure attraction."

Update of Rugby Club's Planning Application

The Planning Officer at West Lindsey District Council, Ms Jackie Jones, yesterday joined a meeting regarding the Lincoln Rugby Football Club's planning application with both the Highway Authority from Lincolnshire County Council and the agent involved in the application.

The district council's planning department are not at present in a position to make any recommendation on this application as additional information has been requested particularly in respect of highway and sustainability issues. Further no final report is at present available from the highway authority as they also are awaiting further information.

Ms Jones reports that:

"I am therefore unable to provide you with a date when it would be envisaged to place the application before committee but I can assure you it will not be before March at the earliest."

Doubtlessly those at the Rugby Club will be disappointed that their application is being held up in this way, whilst opponents will doubtlessly rejoice. What is forgotten however, are the people continue into 2010 in a state of uncertainty.

Lincoln Rugby Football Club

The Lindum Rugby Club published in the Summer 2009 edition of the Nettleham News an article regarding outline proposals to build new facilities for their club on Lodge Lane. A public meeting was held shortly before the schools broke up for the summer holiday a couple of weeks ago at Nettleham Village Hall. Thirty-five local residents turned out for the meeting.

A representative of the Lindum Rugby Club addressed the meeting with enthusiasm. Lindum Rugby Club was founded 100 years ago and turn out four teams on a regular basis the club caters for a full age range of participants. In recent years interest in rugby has been increasing, thanks in part to the recent Lion’s tour to South Africa. It was reported that there has also been significant growth in women’s and girl’s rugby, which the club are unable to support with their current facilities.

The club believe that they need to move because of a lack of space. Currently the club shares nine acres of land, at the bottom of Wragby Road and St. Giles Avenue, with Lincoln Cricket Club. At the site there are two Rugby Pitches with the second team pitch doubling as a training pitch. The current site layout and the position of a cricket square means the youth elements have no proper pitches marked out. Further challenges include: changing facilities that are totally inadequate for the numbers playing rugby, lack of sufficient car parking – that is likely to become residents parking only in the future.

Nettleham had been chosen despite and exhaustive search for a site of 20-30 acres in Lincoln had not been forthcoming. The ‘Green Wedge’ policy also limited the ability of the club to develop a site contiguous to Lincoln. A site at Burton had been investigated but an application to the Planning Authority would in all likelihood be refused.

The speaker from the Rugby Club, using a PowerPoint presentation showed a site map, a detailed plan, schematics for the layout of the clubhouse – with facilities that meet the Rugby Football Union’s approved minimum requirements including: a bar, catering area, six rooms for changing facilities and a room for meetings.

The meeting was informed that Rugby is played between September and April, currently played Saturday afternoons with juniors on Sundays. Training begins in July runs mid-week throughout the season. The land is being leased from the University of Lincoln and as part of the Club’s agreement teams from the university would play on Wednesday afternoons, most likely during the two twelve week semesters.

The Rugby Club’s spokesman concluded that Rugby is about team work, pushing oneself to the limit. It is a sport which can help develop lifelong skills and attitudes, particularly in the young.

A number of questions were asked by members of the public. Particularly of interest were matters relating to: Drainage of the land, impact of increased traffic flows, the impact of the club on horse riders who use a near-by bridle path, landscaping, and the use of floodlighting together with detrimental competition with other village facilities. The representatives of the Rugby Club addressed all these issues attempting to reassure a somewhat intransigent audience that they wanted to work with both the Parish Council and local residents to ensure that the village benefits as much as possible and concerns that are raised are resolved in the early stages.

Following some discussion between the members of the Parish Council, Chairman Cllr. Terry Williams summed up the benefits of the proposal as: additional sporting facility to the village, scope for creating some additional amenity and recreational features on the site – supported as one of the objectives identified in the Parish Plan – by having a development of this nature the Parish Council would be safeguarding the area against a housing development. Whilst members at the meeting still had reservations the Parish Council agreed to continue dialogue with Lindum Rugby Club and seek clarifications on the issues raised.