| RICHMOND NEWS | |  | | | | | BRENTFORD NEWS | | | | |
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Harlequins stoop for extra south stand seats
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| Trying hard: Anji Phillips,director of education and children's services, and Coun Malcolm Eady with Natasha Bignell, Isabelle Harvey, Robert Harkin and Lucy Penny from Heathfield School Deadlinepix HY2410 |
Four thousand more rugby fans will get a seat to jump out of at the home of Harlequins Rugby Club after plans to redevelop the club's south stand were approved last week.
And borough youngsters will also benefit with an education centre planned for the space beneath.
Richmond Council's planning committee agreed to the existing temporary 2,343 seat south stand at The Stoop being replaced with a 4,100 seat stand with 1,993sqm of floor space for community education.
One project, Try Learning, was launched by England Rugby World Cup winner Jason Leonard and Harlequins RL player Henry Paul at the beginning of March.
It puts children through a six-week after-school programme of fitness work at Cannons gym, visits to Twickenham Stadium, documentary making and the chance to interview rugby players.
It is funded by an annual Government grant of £75,000, plus £25,000 from the council and £50,000 worth of resources, such as facilities and access to players, from Harlequins and will move to the Stoop when the new stand is ready, hoped to be in time for the 2008-9 season.
| “Rugby, and sport in general, has the power to inspire and entertain, and this superb facility will harness both these features to enthuse children who are not the strongest academically." | | Councillor Malcolm Eady |
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Councillor Malcolm Eady, Richmond Council cabinet member for children's services and education, said: "Rugby, and sport in general, has the power to inspire and entertain, and this superb facility will harness both these features to enthuse children who are not the strongest academically.
"We want children to be excited about learning and to take their new-found skills and enthusiasm back to the classroom."
Mark Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Harlequins Rugby Union, said: "We're delighted planning permission was granted. We didn't envisage too many problems with this proposal but this is certainly a step in the right direction."
The application was granted subject to providing £66,000 to buy freeview boxes for any householders experiencing poorer TV reception as a result of the build.
4:11pm Tuesday 25th March 2008
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