On Thursday night (25th September) roughly 30 people joined us in the clubhouse for our open session to discuss the approach to improve our facilities here in Hipperholme (please visit www.OurCentenaryVision.co.uk if you're not familiar with the details).

At the start of September our volunteers pushed a letter through 200 residential and business doors, closest to the club, to highlight our ambitions and invite them to attend the drop-in session.

Much of Thursday's debate and conversation was over our ambition to sell our rugby pitch across the road.

For those that were unable to be there, here's a snapshot of some of the questions and answers.....

WHY DO YOU NEED TO SELL THE PITCH OVER THE ROAD?
"The sale of the land will create the capital to immediately reinvest into the remaining 20 acres of pitches, buildings and parking. Investment that will vastly improve the facilities which will maintain and increase access to sport (not just rugby) and other community groups.

We've never had as many people playing at the club in our 95-year history. In addition, we make the facilities available to other sports who are crying out for space, as Calderdale doesn't meet the demand for playing areas (as reported in the Calderdale Playing Pitch Survey, 2017)"

WHY NOW? WHY HAVEN'T YOU TRIED TO SELL THE PITCH BEFORE?
"We've considered selling the pitch for at least 20 years. We've also had many approaches from interested buyers.
However, conversations haven't progressed, and we believe the time is right now if we want to truly live out our ambitions for community sport in Calderdale.
We do not want to sell the pitch but we know the benefits of doing so would enable us to provide a better quality provision for more people. If there was a different way of funding the ambition – we'd take it and leave the pitch as it is."

WHY ARE YOU ONLY TELLING US ABOUT THIS NOW?
"At our AGM in May the members ratified the intention to sell the field in attempt to release the capital.
In July members met to prioritise how the capital would be reinvested if successful.
The next step was to inform existing site users and local residents.
We want to be upfront and open about the plans, hence the creation of the website, the door drop to our nearest 200 neighbours, earlier this month, and last Thursday's drop-in session."

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST RAISE THE CAPITAL THROUGH SPONSORSHIP, GRANTS OR RAISING BAR/MEMBERSHIP/EVENTS PRICES?
"The club's current income model covers the general runnings of the facilities plus an allowance to keep improving the site year on year.
We're also committed to ensuring an inclusive offering to all, with no financial boundaries for involvement and participation. That's why our prices (inc membership, drinks, events) are good value.
The funds required for the changes we'd like to see are substantial and only a sizeable influx of funds would take things to the next level. Just for the all-weather floodlit pitch and the fit-for-purpose changing rooms it'll be over £1.5m.
So far we've been unsuccessful with grants."

WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS?BEYOND SOME "NICE NEW CHANGING ROOMS FOR YOUR MEMBERS??"
"Beyond rugby, our facilities are used by a varied section of the community already. That's something that's grown over time, that there's clearly a need for, and we're keen to continue with.

Most of the activities do not generate income and may only just cover their own costs, but that's no reason to undervalue their impact and importance locally.

New mums converge in the clubhouse weekly for the BabySensory classes. Sixth Form students fill the room during the week for their studies. Overgate Hospice provide their services through their monthly "drop-in hub. We also host numerous charity events throughout the year.

As for the pitches outside; these are used by Hipperholme Grammar School, Northowram Junior Football, Calderdale Locomotive American Football, a local running group and for key schools events such as Cross Country and Orienteering.

A new all-weather pitch would guarantee more opportunities for children and adults to engage in year-round recreational activities.

And, just on the changing rooms; current provision was designed at a time when we had no Ladies or girls teams. At a time when communal showers was very much the norm. We now have almost 100 females regularly participating in rugby and we're committed to providing fit-for-purpose facilities for everyone."

MORE PEOPLE USING THE CLUB? DOES THAT MEAN THE SITE WILL BE BUSIER THAN IT ALREADY IS?
"There will be more opportunities for participation, so footfall will increase. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be busier at key times of the week or the current peak times (like Sunday mornings). The introduction of new facilities, such as a floodlit all-weather-pitch, will mean a steadier flow of users throughout the week."

DO THE PLANS INCLUDE MORE ON-SITE PARKING?
"We have taken onboard previous feedback from our closest neighbours and significantly increased on-site parking over the past 5 years. As part of the Vision proposals, there will be improved routes around the site, plus a further 40 parking spaces (minimum).
We currently have more on-site parking than any other sports club in Calderdale, except for The Shay stadium."

WHO WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THE SALE OF THE LAND?
"The landowner; Old Brodleians Rugby Club – a not-for-profit business with no owners or anyone with a stake in the club. Therefore all proceeds from the sale will be reinvesting into the facility developments."

I'VE SEEN COMMENTS ABOUT MEMBERS TAKING SHARES AND A "GO-FUND-ME" STYLE APPROACH. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
"To fund the Planning Application, we need between £100k - £150k. The club doesn't have those funds, so a bank loan was considered.
However, the committee agreed to approach members to see if they would buy a share in the pursuit of the Vision. Each share costs £1000 but carries the risk that it will be lost if Planning Permission was unsuccessful after two attempts.
If Planning Permission is granted, each share holder would receive their £1000 back plus £500, from the sale proceeds of the land. This seemed like a better option as the financial risk is with the share holders (not the club) and the potential profit (£500) would go to them rather than to a bank via loan interest.
£100k has been pledged through shares so far."

HOW MANY HOUSES COULD BE BUILT?
"We imagine in the region of 45 houses on the 3.5 acre site. Ultimately that will be down to the housing developer that purchases the land – not us."

MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT? WHAT ABOUT THE PRESSURES ON PUBLIC AMENITIES LIKE DOCTORS/ SCHOOLS/ETC?
"We believe COMMUNITY SPORTS facilities are also essential public amenities. The proceeds of the land sale would go straight into improving what we offer and enable increased access/participation for the rising population."

IF SUCCESSFUL, WHO WILL BE BUILDING THE HOUSES?
"Planning Permission needs to be granted before we start talking with potential purchases. We're not currently talking to any potential developers."

DO YOU EXPECT THE LAND SALE TO COVER THE COSTS OF EVERYTHING?
"No, we're hoping to get further funding from grants. But the four core priorities remain the same (Fit-For-Purpose Facilities, Better Playing Surfaces, Increased Access and Financially Stable delivery)."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
"We're building a case, to deliver to Calderdale Council, seeking Hybrid Planning Permission to build on the pitch over the road. If we're successful, we'll "go to market" to find a housing developer to buy the land."

IF SUCCESSFUL, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT BUILDING TO BEGIN?
"There's a lot to happen before building could start. Two years would potentially be the quickest turnaround.

We'd like to submit our Hybrid Planning Application before Christmas. We don't expect a decision until Spring 2026. If successful, we'd need to find a buyer, which could take another six months. They would then need to "complete" on the purchase and then apply for the type of development they'd like to build."

DO YOU EXPECT COMPLETION IN 2030 (THE CLUB'S CENTENARY YEAR)?
"No, that's not a targeted date. "Our Centenary Vision" references the approaching 100th year milestone (which is 2030). The premise here is that we know what our first 100 years looked like. This "vision" is how the next 100 years could look."

HOW CAN I STOP YOU FROM SELLING THE LAND FOR HOUSING?
"Later this year we'll be approaching Calderdale Council with a hybrid planning application. If you have objections, you can notify the Planning Office."

IF PLANNING PERMISSION ISN'T GRANTED... WHAT'S YOUR "PLAN B"?
"We've had an incredibly positive reaction to the aspirations around the all-weather pitch, the desperately needed overhaul of the changing rooms and the additions to the clubhouse. People see the opportunities and acknowledge the need. Therefore, if funding isn't achievable through the sale of the pitch, we'll be revisiting our approaches to national and regional funding grants (such as local council, Sport England, National Lottery)."

WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? HOW WILL YOU UPDATE PEOPLE ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
"There's more information on the www.OurCentenaryVision.co.uk website and this is where we will add further updates."