Sittingbourne Rugby Club bids to build clubhouse and pitches at Wises Lane in Borden, Sittingbourne

A rugby club’s bid to move into its first permanent home is being opposed by neighbours who say there are enough sports facilities in the area.

Sittingbourne Rugby Club, in partnership with Quinn Estates, wants to build a new HQ with two state-of-the-art pitches on fields off Wises Lane, Borden.

It would form part of the developer’s controversial 675-home development there, Applegate Park.

Members of Borden Wildlife Group recently picketed the construction site, saying work threatened the habitat of local skylarks.

The plans were approved in August 2021 following a high-profile planning appeal.

The chairman of Sittingbourne Rugby Club, Roger Down, said the move away from the team’s current base, at Gore Court Cricket Club’s base at The Grove, in Key Street, would help secure its future and allow the club to grow.

A statement from the club said: “Sittingbourne RUFC is currently located at Gore Court where it shares sporting and social/clubhouse facilities with both hockey and cricket clubs.

“This is far from ideal as the facilities are not able to accommodate the size of our playing section, especially juniors. Also, the playing areas of the club are not available to us at all times due to the maintenance and use of the cricket pitch. The club has no security of tenure at Gore Court.

“This development will provide our first ever permanent home and enable the club to meet its current needs and invest in its future growth. It also affords us the control of our own destiny rather than being dependant on continued compromise to meet the needs of other stakeholders.”

The club added: “One of our greatest concerns is that of access to all. Gore Court has no facilities for access to or use by physically disadvantaged people,