Poole Town granted permission for £2m home at Bearwood

Fans cheered as nine councillors unanimously granted planning permission for a £2m ground off Magna Road, at Bearwood.

In a dramatic end to the drawn-out saga, they overturned officers’ recommendations to refuse the plans because the land had been reserved for economic development.

Instead, they argued that the prestige of a successful team and having more leisure facilities in the community were more important.

Elvations for the new development

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More than 150 people, plus team mascot Dylan the Dolphin, packed the Hamworthy Club for the tense two-and-a-half hour meeting on the building of two floodlit pitches, a 150-seater stand and a clubhouse.

For the Dolphins, it will mean a chance to climb the non-league football ladder, having been held back two seasons by unsuitable facilities at Tatnam Farm.

Poole Town’s commercial manager and director, Mark Bumford, said: “Our search for a new home has seen many false dawns.

“But against all the odds our club has flourished. We expected the decision to be close. I’m delighted.”

The club now needs funds to build the ground, including a 156-space car park, and it won’t be ready for up to 18 months.

“The hard work starts here and there will be further hurdles yet,” Mr Bumford added.

“We’ll be playing the whole of next season at Tatnam, and potentially the season after.”

Some neighbours voiced concerns about traffic and noise.

But Rob Sowerby and grandson Dom Guile, 14, were celebrating.

Mr Sowerby said: “This is really great news – we can now see a future for the club.”

Conditions will focus on landscaping and access, as well as safeguarding the rest of the site, currently used for car boot sales, for future employment developments.

Factfile

POOLE Town have led a nomadic existence since their eviction from their spiritual home at Poole Stadium in 1994.

The Daily Echo grabs its backpack and follows the club on the long and winding road.

1991 – Poole Town go bust and Poole Stadium – built by the club in the 1930s but in desperate need of modernisation – is put out to tender by the council.

1994 - The new owners of the stadium force Poole Town out of their Wimborne Road home after 61 years.

The council hands the club a £240,000 relocation grant and a new ground is planned for Turlin Moor.

But late opposition halts the move and, having played their opening games of the season at Dean Court, the club is hastily forced into a share arrangement at Hamworthy United’s County Ground.

1996 – Unable to reach a permanent agreement with Hamworthy United, Holt and Poole Town a lifeline with an offer to share their ground at Gaunts Common – seven miles outside the borough.

A scheme to develop land at Bearwood falls by the wayside, while proposals to ground-share with Flight Refuelling at Merley are also rejected.

1999 – Poole Town are evicted by their landlords once more and take up residence at Haskells Rec in Parkstone.

2000 – A new scheme to move to a home at Tatnam Farm, in the grounds of Oakdale South Road Middle School, is agreed.

2009 – Poole Town’s £1m plans to redevelop Branksome Rec meet a hefty backlash from residents angry at the potential loss of their open space. But the council votes to back the club’s plans, only for planning officers to halt the scheme at the 11th hour.

2011 – The club finally ends its 17-year search for a permanent home when the council’s planning committee grant permission for a new ground at Bearwood.