A RUCK in Alresford over plans for two new rugby pitches appears to have been averted, despite concerns from some local people.

The town rugby club wants to level off sloping grazing land at Arlebury Park into two pitches in a £167,000 scheme.

A public meeting at Alresford Recreation Centre on Tuesday heard that there now appears to be support from most of the town council.

But people living near Arlebury Park raised concerns. Jan Field, chairman of the Alresford Society, said there was little confidence in the ability of the town council to manage the project.

Many people have disputed the need for two pitches and the wisdom of taking on part of the site on a 15-year lease from local landowner Rodney Morgan-Giles, who owns part of the second pitch.

Paul Maxlow-Tomlinson, of Arlebury Park Mews, questioned the numbers of players at the club. He said: “Would it not be sensible to ‘hurry slowly’, have one pitch and see how it goes and later get a second?”

Club chairman Chris Day said there was a need now for two not least because they would be used by hundreds of pupils from Perins School.

Mr Maxlow-Tomlinson also predicted what would happen when the lease expires: “Mr Morgan-Giles is going to say ‘I want the land reinstated, I want it back.’ He may say ‘I will give you the land if you do not object to my getting planning permission on that land there’,” referring to another field next to Arlebury Park which he would like to see developed for housing.

One dissenting voice on the town council is Roy Gentry, who said: “I will vote against a second pitch. I think it is foolish to spend a lot of money building a pitch for only 13 years. I think there are other options,” saying there is other land at Arlebury Park that could be used for rugby.

The meeting heard the June 30 deadline imposed by the Rugby Football Union had been eased.

After the meeting, attended by about 25 people, Mr Day said he thought most questions had been answered. The money is available and the grants are nearly agreed.

He said he hoped that when the lease expires in 2027 Mr Morgan-Giles would see the benefit of the second pitch to the town.

The town council meets tonight (THURS) and may vote on whether to support the project.