THE PROJECT for the new community facility at Love Lane in Petersfield needs partner organisations to support it – and it already has one town institution on board.

Petersfield Town Football Club, whose stadium will be adjacent to the new centre, has been working with the project team to help develop its own plans for the future.

But rather than come up with a stand-alone development behind the stadium’s fences, the club is keen for its facilities to become part of the community centre plan.

One concept is for the area of the new building which would adjoin the current stadium boundary to include changing rooms, clubhouse, club offices and a stand with seating and standing accommodation for supporters. However, these facilities wouldn’t be just for the exclusive use of the football club, they would be made available for the whole community to make use of in the future.

Petersfield Town chairman Graeme Moir said:?“Rather than just seeing a brick wall of the new building coming up to our boundary, we have discussed the idea of that side of the building incorporating new facilities for the club.

“For example if our clubhouse bar was in the new building, this would not only be used on matchdays it would be open throughout the week for users of the centre to use as well.

“We are developing plans to level our pitch in the stadium and possibly install a 3G/4G surface. If that happens the stadium will be able to be used by far more people in the community, whether it is other clubs or other sports.

“By linking up with the new centre the stadium will become a community facility available for use seven days a week.”

The project group is keen to meet any organisations in the town which would like to help shape the community building. E-mail Nigel Wells at: [email protected]