Work starts on a new community clubhouse and a home for Dartford Valley Rugby Club 

Dartford Valley RugbyBuilding work on a new community clubhouse for Dartford Valley Rugby Club has started with a ground-breaking ceremony on land at Stone Lodge.

The new facility is designed to provide a sports and leisure club for the local community and offer a permanent home to Dartford Valley Rugby Club’s league teams and community activities.

Kent based building contractor  BBS Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to build the new facility and joined representatives from the Rugby Club and Dartford Borough Council to celebrate the start of works.

The project will deliver a new 800 sq.m. community club house, flood lit 3G rugby pitch and a second grass pitch. The facility will also include suitable car parking, in a fully landscaped environment. The sustainable facility has been designed to serve the growing community around Stone Lodge as well as provide sporting opportunities for students at the new secondary school opening nearby.

It’s as the new home for Dartford Valley Rugby Club that the facility will have the greatest benefit to the community. The club has a superb reputation for its work with young people and when the community clubhouse opens next Summer it will accommodate not just the senior teams but the growing mini and junior sections too.

Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council said, “The investment into the new clubhouse is part of the Council’s long-term commitment to improving leisure facilities in Dartford. Our previous investments in places like Fairfield, Princes Park and Dartford Cricket Club have seen a huge up-take in participation in activities especially amongst the young. I think the role that these facilities can play for the rest of the community are also now being fully appreciated.  People and local organisations adopt them as the places for celebrations, parties and meetings and they can become the heart of a community. I think rugby has the potential to involve and engage huge numbers of families and I’m very proud to be bringing that to the heart of the Stone community.”

Peter Timon, Dartford Valley Club Chairman said, “Rugby is about family and community, but it’s also about discipline, respect and teamwork.  Working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council has meant that the dream of a ‘Home of our own’ is now coming true.  Our Rugby family in Stone is about to get a whole lot bigger! Roll on Summer 2019!”

To find out more about Dartford Valley Rugby Club visit www.dvrfc.co.uk.