This is what we are up against ,,,,,,,, this is reply from parliamentary group.


Thank you for your email of 10 June to the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, regarding the campaign to save East Leigh Rugby Club, and I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Minister. We do sympathise with the situation you describe with the East Leigh Clubhouse. This of course comes at a time when local authorities are having to tighten their belts considerably. However, this is not an issue which central Government can become involved in.



Decisions about leisure facilities rest with the local council and Ministers cannot intervene directly or influence the decision-making processes of local authorities.

The Government would like every community to have access to as wide a range of sports facilities as possible. However, it is critical that local authorities plan strategically for the future, to ensure that all community needs are catered for and the right facilities are in the right places.



If you feel that your local council is not dealing with these issues correctly you could use the council’s own complaint procedures. You may also wish to seek advice from the Local Government Ombudsman. The website details are:

www.lgo.org.uk/ and the LGO Advice Team numbers are 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983.



You may also like to know that there are many funding agencies, both at a national and local level, which can help your club achieve its ambitions on the pitch and within the local community. Further details are available on the RFU website at this link:



www.rfu.com/managingrugby/clubde ... ngagencies



I suggest that you enlist the support of your constituency MP the RT Hon Andy Burnham to support your campaign.



Kind Regards,

Syed Ali

Ministerial Support Team

This is what we are up against ,,,,,,,, this is reply from parliamentary group.


Thank you for your email of 10 June to the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, regarding the campaign to save East Leigh Rugby Club, and I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Minister. We do sympathise with the situation you describe with the East Leigh Clubhouse. This of course comes at a time when local authorities are having to tighten their belts considerably. However, this is not an issue which central Government can become involved in.



Decisions about leisure facilities rest with the local council and Ministers cannot intervene directly or influence the decision-making processes of local authorities.

The Government would like every community to have access to as wide a range of sports facilities as possible. However, it is critical that local authorities plan strategically for the future, to ensure that all community needs are catered for and the right facilities are in the right places.



If you feel that your local council is not dealing with these issues correctly you could use the council’s own complaint procedures. You may also wish to seek advice from the Local Government Ombudsman. The website details are:

www.lgo.org.uk/ and the LGO Advice Team numbers are 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983.



You may also like to know that there are many funding agencies, both at a national and local level, which can help your club achieve its ambitions on the pitch and within the local community. Further details are available on the RFU website at this link:



www.rfu.com/managingrugby/clubde ... ngagencies



I suggest that you enlist the support of your constituency MP the RT Hon Andy Burnham to support your campaign.



Kind Regards,

Syed Ali

Ministerial Support Team