No Homes Conversion

Club president Charles Boughton-Leigh has denied claims made at a public meeting two weeks ago that the club had sold its land at Roundstone Lane to developers.

The rugby fields are just across Roundstone Lane from the new Bramley Green estate, where 600 homes are set to be built.

And as the under-construction Angmering bypass runs alongside the rugby club site, speculation has been rife in Angmering that the next large-scale development would be on the pitches.

Mention of further housing, on the playing fields, was made at a public meeting called by Angmering Parish Council over the controversial issue of providing school places for the new Bramley Green homes.

But Mr Boughton-Leigh told the Gazette: "I want to make it absolutely, 100 per cent clear, that the rugby club has not sold its land.

"We have never discussed it at any committee meeting I have attended and, as far as I am aware, we have never had an offer.

"We have no intention of ever selling the rugby club. Where could we get a better ground than we already have?

"This is a highly successful club and we have had a wonderful season, the most successful in our history we have done the double.

"While we appreciate the ground is a valuable asset, it is valuable to us as a rugby site and we will never find a better one.

"There are six pitches, with room for another one, as level and perfectly drained as you could ever wish to have.

"There is good access and we are far enough away from houses to avoid any disturbance to residents we can make a little noise if we wish.

"Our pavilion is a brilliant facility, the best in the south-east, and we would be made to give all this up."

Far from selling up, said Mr Boughton-Leigh, the club intended to continue to improve sporting opportunities for everyone and to provide facilities for the whole community, as a site for charity and other events.

"It is listed in the local plan as a sports ground and needs that protection. It is not a housing site," he added.