Cash questions over revamp of Ringwood Town facilities

COST uncertainties need to be tackled before plans for a Ringwood football revamp can kick off, councillors have said.

The town council is overseeing a scheme being developed by Ringwood Town Football Club that could link up with AFC Bournemouth’s charitable arm, the Community Sports Trust.

It has been claimed £1m funding could be unlocked to spruce up the club’s Long Lane base, provide upgrades to floodlights, introduce new floodlit 3G all weather pitches, rebuild the dilapidated clubhouse and construct a new office block with a gym, cafe and community space.

Town clerk Chris Wilkins told the latest town council meeting that architects had provided initial thoughts on the design and scope but were cautious about costs as “a great deal of uncertainty” on several issues could not be resolved until site surveys and investigations were carried out.

Those costings could “change significantly”, he warned, and affect the scope of the project.

Mr Wilkins also said the issue of VAT “was a highly complex technical matter” as sports projects were a specialist matter and advice would come “at significant cost”.

While it was expected the Football Foundation will release an initial sum to cover early costs, other parties may also need to contribute, he said.