Winter Sports
“We were riding the crest of the wave, so were able to gain access to money that we would likely not have benefitted from had we begun the process just a year later”
Jim North, President, Pulborough Rugby Club
and a small team of committed individuals embarked on, what would prove to be, a twenty-five year quest for a permanent home. Following unsuccessful stints at Pythingdean and Nutbourne, suitable land was found at Stopham, east of Pulborough. This proved to be the most fruitful acquisition to date, and one requiring a change of use, but the committee was hindered by a number of issues beyond its control, and unable to progress further than the planning stages when the land was acquired by another purchaser. With the Stopham project fallen by the wayside, the Club then considered a move to land at nearby and recently by- passed Billingshurst but, ultimately, failure to obtain Lottery funding made the cost of accommodating the rugby club alongside Billingshurst Football and
Cricket Clubs unrealistic, plus it would have meant another shared facility and no independence and freedom to develop.
In 2003, a plot of land became available that ticked all the boxes. Once part of the sprawling Parham Park estate, the land was put up for sale by the owners, who were keen to shed some of their vast acreage. With Pulborough Gliding Club as neighbours, the club saw this 14-acre site as the ideal setting - one allowing the number of pitches and scope for future growth that the committee sought. With the bare bones in place, negotiations began in early 2004, with planning permission submitted to construct three new pitches, a clubhouse and limited parking. After such a long search, the planning and construction went through in just
over twelve months and the new Swedish inspired, 4,000sq ft clubhouse officially opened in 2006. “We really liked the Scandia Hus design, with the sloping roof and characterful Glulam wooden beams,” explains Alex. “We looked around a number of clubhouses local to us to seek inspiration for our design. The planning process also constrained what we could do with the building,” he continues. “It had to be a single storey construction and be sympathetic to the surroundings. The final barn-style appearance fitted the bill.” The exposed, often windy site might
make a perfect setting for a gliding club, but Pulborough had to orientate the pitches so that play didn’t interfere with the flight movements of, what are, costly pieces of kit. “The buffer strip between us and the
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 PC 43
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