AGREEMENT over the proposed new rugby pitches has yet to be made between Alresford civic chiefs and the town rugby club.

The town council heard that some of the obstacles that looked like scuppering the two new pitches at Arlebury Park had been resolved, but others remain.

Rugby club officials at the meeting last Thursday (MAY9) had hoped the council would agree to back the scheme but their hopes were premature.

The club is under deepening time pressure as conditions for grants to cover most of the cost of converting farmland at Arlebury Park stipulate work must start by June 30.

Potential hitches with Sport England and the Rugby Football Union over the number of pitches and length of the lease look to have been resolved.

The landowner Rodney Morgan-Giles is happy to see a second pitch on his land but he retains the right to have the land reinstated at the end of the lease.

Town councillor Roy Gentry raised potential stumbling blocks over the payment of professional fees, reclaiming VAT and project management.

A meeting is due to be held on Tuesday May 14 between council club and the RFU to review the situation and clarify how the project will proceed.

Cllr Gentry voiced concerns after the meeting: “One rugby pitch is doable. I don’t think two are doable. I want to do a big rugby pitch. I haven’t been working for five years on this not to have one.

“It can be done without fuss or who-har but the club should accept what they are proposing ain’t going to happen.”