MELKSHAM Rugby Club’s plans to move to Dunch Lane have been scuppered, with Woolmore Farm now the proposed location for the club.
The rugby club, along with the football club, are to move from their present sites near Melksham House to make way for the new Melksham Community Campus.
The original plan was for the football club to move to Woolmore Farm where a new ground would be built and for the rugby club to move to a new ground on Dunch Lane. However, it recently emerged that the Dunch Lane proposed site is on a flood plain and not suitable for a new ground. It is now expected to be announced at the Melksham Area Board that both the football and rugby club will play at Woolmore Farm, located just to the north of Melksham Oak School. However, both clubs are expected to have their own separate facilities on the site and remain completely independent of each other.
Lucy Murray-Brown, head of campus delivery and operational models for Wiltshire Council said, “Various options have been discussed with the club representatives and the preferred option appears to be the development of both football and rugby facilities on land at Woolmore Farm. This concept has been explored with both clubs and we are collectively at a stage now where it would be helpful for an update at the area board.
“I have discussed this with cllr Hubbard (chair of Melksham Area Board) and he has asked us to do an update at the next meeting. The intention will be to show the early images, much like we did previously, and to explain some of the rationale and the next steps.”
Bruce Sanders from Melksham Rugby Club said, “We have worked closely with everyone involved to ensure the best outcome is met for rugby and football. It will be great when we can move to our new ground.”
Dave Wiltshire, Chairman of Melksham Town FC said, “It seems like the rugby club will be on Woolmore Farm too but we will still have separate grounds much the same as it is now.”
