COUNCILLORS have agreed to award Wellington Rugby Club a £3,000 grant to help fund the financing of new floodlights.

The club had applied to Wellington Town Council for the grant support to help towards replacing existing floodlighting with modern energy-efficient LED floodlights.

Councillors unanimously backed the funding when they discussed the application at the council's monthly meeting on Monday (November 2).

Members of the council's policy and finance committee had narrowly supported the request at their meeting on October 12, but a final decision had to be made by the full council as the £3,000 went over the authority's remaining grants budget.

But the policy and finance committee was somewhat disappointed and surprised that nobody from the club was at their meeting last month o speak in support of the application or to answer any questions.

The discussion about the grant application initially divided opinions on the committee with Cllr Janet Lloyd asking why the club could not pay for the project itself or get financial backing from the national Rugby Football Union.

Club representatives attended the full council meeting on November 2 where chairman Gareth Hodgson apologised for not having been at the policy and finance committee meeting last month.

Mr Hodgson gave a brief background to the club, which was first founded in 1874, and now has 17 teams at all age levels for boys and girls.

But he said that the ageing floodlights at the club needed replacing to help enhance the facilities at its headquarters in Corams Lane.

“They are more than 35 years old and our floodlights are failing – they're becoming obsolete,” he told councillors.

Cllr Andy Govier quipped: “It sounded as if the club chairman was describing me in his presentation – getting older and bits falling off!”

Mr Hodgson said the project to replace the floodlights would cost in the region of £35,000 to £40,000.

Councillors heard that changing the lights to LED would have obvious environmental benefits and make them more cost effective.

The club had applied to Sport England for funding, but had already raised £15,000 for the project which would be match-funded, while it was also looking at further grant opportunities.

And Cllr Govier, who fully supported the application, added: “This is a worthwhile scheme and Wellington Rugby Club is an integral part of the local community. Anything that improves the sporting facilities in our town should be welcomed.

“The club has raised a substantial amount of money with match-funding coming from Sport England.”

Cllr Govier proposed that the grant application be awarded and this was seconded by Cllr Steve Mercer.

Cllr John Thorne added: “We want to do our best to support our sporting clubs in the town and we should be helping the rugby club.”