Plans to build £1m clubhouse in Ponteland dealt severe blow after bid to fell trees is rejected

Ponteland United and Ponteland Rugby Club want to build the clubhouse close to the town’s new leisure centre in Callerton Lane.

But to make space for it, 12 trees need to be felled.

The clubhouse committee therefore applied to vary the conditions of the planning permission for the school and sports centre, which states no more trees on the site can be cut down.

But despite promising to plant at least 24 replacement trees, members of the Strategic Planning Committee decided to go with the officers’ recommendation and reject it.

The news is a huge blow to the clubhouse project, as the committee has said this is the only place where the building can go.

But rugby club president David Comesky remained upbeat and insisted the plans were not dead in the water yet.

He said: “Though we are terribly disappointed with the outcome of the hearing, it was a bit like a curate’s egg, good in places but bad in others.

"We were heartened by the obvious support for the overall idea of a clubhouse shown by the councillors and their attempts to find a way past the difficulties of the constraints raised by the county planning department.

"Despite a very lengthy debate, the councillors were unable to find a resolution to this impasse and therefore reluctantly had to reject our application.

"However, this is not the end of the road for the community clubhouse project.

"With the encouragement of the county councillors and further discussions with the planning department, we will continue to explore ways to get the permissions we need to move the project forward.”

Nearly 400 letters supporting the clubhouse committee's application were submitted to the council. It also had the backing of Ponteland Town Council, and member Susan Johnson urged the planning committee to rethink.

She said: “Ponteland Town Council supports this application as the end result of a clubhouse for the two sports teams would provide an excellent amenity for them and the community of Ponteland.

“It would allow entrance into higher leagues, therefore attracting residents to remain with their local teams rather than travel to other teams with better facilities and better prospects.”

Ponteland RFC’s director of rugby, John Chappell, also spoke on behalf of both clubs.

He said: “We consider this to be our home and as custodians we will do everything that we can to create a brilliant location and experience for all. With your support and public backing, we believe that we have a scheme that will sit alongside and enhance the current on-site facilities.”

However, councillors felt they were unable to approve the plans as no planning application for the clubhouse itself has been submitted.

Committee chairman Coun Trevor Thorne said: “We need an appropriate planning reason to overturn it and the powers-that-be are saying the application is there, but what’s behind the application? There’s no planning application at the moment.

“We all have great sympathy with Ponteland Town Council but what should really happen is what our planning officers are saying. We have an application to vary a condition without a reason to vary it.”

Two councillors voted against refusal, while two others abstained.