A rugby club in Sevenoaks has begun its planned facilities and pitch improvement after receiving over £70,000 funding.

Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club received £50,000 from Cory Environmental Trust in Britain (CETB), £20,000 from the Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust (ICET) and further provision from Sevenoaks Town Council.

The project will see a wheelchair-accessible covered balcony for spectators and coaches built onto the existing clubhouse, an extension added to the overflow car park and ground drainage installed on the club’s three pitches.

Pitches one and two will be re-marked to place pitch one in front of the clubhouse.

Club president Phil Bradshaw said the works would make a great difference to the local community. He said: “The Club uses three council-owned pitches every Saturday and Sunday during the winter months, plus training two evenings a week before and during the season.

“On Sundays all space is hired out, including the football pitch, to accommodate more than 550 boys and girls.

“The ground is also used by cricket clubs in the summer and is available for hire by other organisations throughout the year as well. Unfortunately, over the past few years the usage of the grounds has been lost on an increasing number of occasions due to heavy rain.

“The pitch drainage and clubhouse upgrade works will therefore be of benefit to all users of Knole Paddock and the wider community in both summer and winter. Thanks to the funding provided by CETB and ICET we see this project as being a lasting and long-term benefit to Sevenoaks.”

Cllr Andrew Eyre, chairman of the Leisure Committee at Sevenoaks Town Council said: “The Town has some exciting plans happening over the next year or so and the partnership between the Council and the Rugby Club is an early example.

“The club provides competitive rugby at senior and youth levels as well as introductory schemes for children. These plans will improve the facilities for both players and spectators providing yet more reasons for people to enjoy life and leisure in Sevenoaks.”

Angela Haymonds, Secretary of both CETB and ICET, said: “The CETB and ICET Trustees are delighted to be able to support this project, which will create a year-round sports facility for the whole community to use and enjoy. It’s great that these important sporting facilities won’t be thwarted by our increasingly wet weather.”

CETB and ICET funding is available for a wide range of projects that bring benefit to local communities.

For more information contact Angela Haymonds on 01753 582513 or visit www.cetb.org.uk