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Pompey score as new training ground gets nod
Pompey's good fortune continued last night as plans for a multi-million pounds new training complex were approved.
The football club's plans for a new training ground in Lee-on-the Solent got unanimous support when they went before Gosport councillors.
Work on the specialist complex in Cherque Way will start within two months.
It comes after the club unveiled plans for a new stadium and signed top-class striker Peter Crouch.
A delighted Peter Storrie, the club's chief executive, told The News: 'If we got something like a 60/40 vote it's a good thing, but 100 per cent – you can't ask any more than that. Gosport has opened its arms to us.
'The training ground is vital on two fronts – we need world class facilities for a world class team, to attract the players. It's also very important we put the whole operation in one unit – the academy and the football team on one site.'
The 35-acre training complex will house 10 full-size pitches, two mini pitches and a three-quarter size pitch. It will be almost 10 times the size of the club's current Eastleigh training ground.
A 18,000sq ft building will house changing rooms, medical facilities and a gym to provide players with physical training, medical attention and nutrition under one roof.
There will also be a three-quarter size indoor pitch for the club's academy, which will have its own separate building.
A previous application to build a training ground in Fareham was rejected earlier this year.
Mr Storrie added: 'I was very annoyed about the Fareham site. We spent a lot of time and money on that site. But this is actually a far better site.'
Two full-size pitches will be dedicated to community use and the indoor facilities will be available for schools in the Gosport area.
The centre will provide 14 new permanent jobs.
Pompey will help fund visitor facilities for the Alver Valley Country Park, which will be built next to the site by the council.
Permission was granted on the condition that wildlife on the site, including badgers, would be protected.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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