Press Release Wednesday 16th March 2005

Harlow Rugby Club is both sad and angry at the decision of the Environment and Community Committee to Reject the Local Plan Inquiry Inspector’s Recommendations in Relation to Ram Gorse and Latton Farm

Last night the Harlow Council Environment and Community Committee voted to reject the recommendations of the Planning Inspector who conducted the recent Inquiry into the proposed Harlow Local Plan in respect to the redevelopment of the Rugby Club’s ground at Ram Gorse and the relocation of the Club to Latton Farm.   

The Inspector supported the designation of the ground for housing thus creating an opportunity for the Club to sell the site for development and fund a move to a new ground.

The Inspector totally rejected the Council proposal to designate the site as green wedge, stating that it failed to meet any of the seven criteria used in identifying green wedges.  The Council, having been robustly defeated on this proposal, is now proposing that the site be included within the Metropolitan Green Belt. 

The Club is certain that its plans are fully justified and in the best interests of the community. The Club will therefore fight this latest setback at every stage of the planning process, including at another Public Inquiry if necessary.

The Club acquired the ground at Ram Gorse when it was a small sports organisation providing for two or three senior mens' teams. Now it provides a key leisure outlet for 800 plus people running teams for both men and ladies and for children from the age of six upwards. It has totally outgrown the Ram Gorse site where there is no room for expansion (particularly in relation to the provision of additional pitches fundamental to the Club’s survival).   The only adjacent playing field land has already been developed by the Council as its major cricket provision for the town. The only option is to move and, as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), the only way such a move can be funded is by realising the development potential of the Ram Gorse site and, as required by the Club’s CASC status, plough the proceeds back into the development of a new facility.  

The club is totally committed to the Harlow Community and one of its contributions is the provision of  training and competition for around 200 young people in the age range 6 to 18. It also, at its own expense, sends its RFU qualified coaches into Harlow Schools to assist the PE staff in introducing rugby to their pupils. Ladies rugby is one of the major growth sports in the UK and the Club has full committed to this and its senior ladies team now plays in the RFUW leagues. It is however very difficult to provide the quality of facility the female players deserve in a clubhouse that was designed when rugby was a single sex game.

If the club were allowed to move to its preferred new site at Latton Farm the new facilities would be developed having full regard to their location within a green wedge, in line with the format of other green wedges in the town.

A few key points

During the debate at the Committee last night it appeared that there were some misunderstandings among the members on some of the issues relating to the Club’s proposals.  These points will, we hope, clarify them.

• Development of the club at Ram Gorse is not an option; there is no adjacent land available for the required expansion

• The Club has considered all possible ways of funding a move but as an amateur club the only way they can raise the necessary funding is to sell the ground.

• The Club had a planning application dismissed on appeal eighteen months ago.  However, the Inspector at that Inquiry concluded that the site was in a sustainable location suitable for housing and only dismissed the appeal on grounds relating to design.  With the latest Inquiry report it means that two planning Inspectors have now come out in favour of the principle of housing at Ram Gorse.

• There were a number of references to “preserving green wedge land”. Ram Gorse is not green wedge and never has been. On an original version of the Gibbard Plan it was in fact designated for housing.