A NEW £2million training ground for Colchester United would bring jobs and sporting benefits to Tiptree, the U’s have pledged.
The club is set to submit a new planning application to build a clubhouse, five training pitches and a car park on fields at Vine Farm, off Grange Road, at the end of next week.
A previous bid, which did not include the clubhouse, was rejected by Colchester Council planners in June following opposition from hundreds of local residents.
The U’s, who currently train at Essex University, are to lodge an appeal against the refusal, but if the second bid is given the thumbs-up, that will be dropped.
If the new bid is rejected, and the appeal succeeds, chief executive Steve Bradshaw said the club would want the council to pay their costs, including legal bills and cost of using Essex University.
He said: “Of course, we will challenge the council for costs on that. That’s not because we’re being combative, it’s because it’s the right thing to do. It could run into a couple of hundred grand.”
Anne Turrell, leader of Colchester Council, declined to comment.
The League One club spent two seasons in the Championship before being relegated in 2008, shortly before the 10,000- seater Weston Homes Community Stadium was opened.
Mr Bradshaw said they now wanted to push on and become a regular Championship side, particularly after the 7-1 demolition of Norwich City last Saturday.
He said: “The game against Norwich on the opening day of the season saw us visit a team who possess the sort of set-up and facilities everyone at Colchester United is aspiring to.
“For a club that holds strong ambitions of being a sustainable Championship club, it would be remiss of us not to have an equally strong desire to have first-class facilities.”
Manager Paul Lambert said: “A training ground such as this will truly benefit the football club. It will attract the type of high-calibre footballer this team needs to reach the next level, and it is vital Colchester United is able to bring the training ground to reality.”
Colchester MP Bob Russell’s call for a training ground near the Weston Homes Community Stadium has been dismissed by U’s owner Robbie Cowling.
The club say many players car share and live south of Tiptree, while a minibus service would also run to the new facility.
Construction of the clubhouse, which would have changing rooms and a canteen, is expected to be tendered out to local companies, while further full-time jobs would be on offer in the reception and canteen.
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