TODAY signals the start of a new era for March Town United after the football club received planning permission for a £140,000 clubhouse at the GER.
Fenland District Council have given the green light to the Hares’ proposal, which will see a club room and changing facilities built next to the grandstand.
The clubhouse will have a bar, community room, medical room, kitchen, toilets and changing rooms as well as a front entrance on Robingoodfellow’s Lane.
Chairman Phil White received confirmation of planning permission this morning.
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” he said. “We can get it all moving forward now - the Hares are on the move!”
March, who have one of the oldest wooden stands in the country, have not had a clubhouse since 1994.
The plans for the new £140,000 building emerged after a long-running dispute with their landlords, the GER Sports Club, ended in an out-of-court settlement in February.
The feud resulted in a package which could see the football club receive £40,000 - to be paid in instalments - and a new 30-year lease from their landlords.
March have held meetings with the Football Foundation with a view to securing funding, and they hope that the clubhouse could be finished as early as September.
Planning permission was granted on several conditions - including the submission of plans for external lighting and CCTV.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here