Stone: New joint sports club to get housing deal cash

Facilities will include a new clubhouse and changing rooms, the council said

Two sports clubs are set to merge and have facilities upgraded with funding raised through a planning agreement.

Stafford Borough Council's cabinet has agreed to allocate £400,000 to the new Stone Hockey and Rugby Club under Section 106 protocols.

Stone Rugby Club agreed to move to the town's hockey club venue on Enson Lane after its former site was sold to a housing developer.

It played its matches at Tilling Drive, which will now be used for new homes.

Gillian Pardesi, cabinet member for leisure, told a meeting the money was "specifically for sports contributions" and the agreement did not allow the money to be used elsewhere.

"The allocation is towards the upgrade of existing grassed areas, grass pitch construction and the upgrade costs of a new clubhouse and changing rooms," she said.

Ms Pardesi added the merger had been approved by England Hockey and England Rugby and would not be possible without the investment.

Jill Hood, cabinet member for community, said. "As a resident of Stone, I'm delighted to see that we're offering hockey as well as rugby.

"These two clubs really promote themselves and have a programme for very small children to go along and play."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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