Clubhouse Update

You are all no doubt aware that we received planning consent for a new clubhouse building in January 2008. This planning consent is valid for 3 years and anticipated build costs were in the order of £450k. Over the summer your present committee considered the proposed building in light of the current financial and credit situation, in addition the RFU have raised issues concerning our lease and have also had to revisit their own funding criteria. The RFU were considering us for an interest free loan of £100k. However, this would have meant repayments of £6,666 per year for the next 15 years and your committee was not willing to commit the club to this sort of annual outgoings. In order to generate funds to cover these loan repayments we would have to more than double our annual turnover. In addition fundraising from within the club has been limited to a very successful sportsman’s dinner, arranged by Ian Harrison, and a cycle ride in France by Roger Filbey, Alan Cornell and Paul Bond. These events have raised £20k, but a lot more is needed.  

The club officers had a meeting with the RFU, Hampshire RFU and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council where we outlined our concerns. All parties present wished to see the new build proceed but accepted that the final cost of the new build would be the determining factor, we are currently obtaining a detailed estimate, which despite the current down turn in the economy, is likely to come in at about £700k. If this turns out to be the case, even with substantial funding from the RFU and BDBC, we will be unable to raise sufficient funds to finance this building. A final decision from the RFU will be made in early 2009 when their funding levels are confirmed by the government, this will depend on the final estimated build cost, the lease being signed and level of support from BDBC. The council has indicated that approximately £60k will be available, but again it will depend on the support being given by the RFU. All parties have reaffirmed their support for ORFC and confirmed that we are a club identified in Hampshire as in need of support for improved facilities. 

In the meantime the Club is perusing alternative proposals to further develop our existing facilities. You will notice that we have already carried out a great deal of work to improve toilet facilities and the roof will be overhauled soon. We have had some preliminary work carried out to investigate the provision of new changing and showering facilities with an extension to the club house forming a 2^nd phase. Replacement of our changing facilities is urgently required as the outside wall in the away changing room has developed a large crack.

We have had a provisional changing room layout drawn up by Lee-Roy Angel who is the architectural advisor on the RFU funding panel, These have been passed to Karl Hughes (ex club member) who is currently preparing detailed drawings for a planning submission in January 2009.

Karl has a lot of dealings with the planners and he suggested that the new building would be accepted easier by the planners if the design and construction of the new building was distinctly separated from the existing building. He has suggested an entrance lobby that links the existing and the new building, with the new building housing toilets for the club house, 4 new changing rooms and showers to RFU requirements. An extension to the club room would not be included at this stage as planning permission would be sought to replace existing changing rooms. The design would be such that by building an extra wall and putting a roof on the extra space for the club room would be created. The planners look very differently on an extension as opposed to a new building and the other reason is cost - we have to be able to afford this and we have to do it within the next 12 months or so. Projected cost of changing room extension is about £200K. The existing building is also not very thermally efficient and would be better replaced than forming a major part of a new construction; access between buildings would be via double doors. We are also not very sure about the structural ability of the new building to support too much alteration.

We are looking to achieve planning consent in March 2009, at which time the RFU should be aware of their funding levels, we will then have 2 plans on the table and will be in a position to move quickly to secure funding for which ever scheme is the most financially viable.