Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Football Club (B&SRFC) has been constrained for many years by their location. In addition, facilities and amenities at their home ground Sharmans Cross Road do not meet current standards. Among items that would need to be addressed but cannot be are flood lighting, ground capacity, corporate and public facilities, changing areas and car and coach parking. After much searching B&SRFC are now planning to ground share with Solihull Moors Football Club (SMFC) at Damson Park, ideally this will start next season. A Planning Application has been submitted for the enhancement of facilities at the Moor's stadium which if approved will make it a Centre of Excellence in the Borough and provide a platform for a new charitable Community Foundation providing a whole range of benefits to the community of Solihull, including grass roots sports development, healthy lifestyle initiatives, Young Enterprise programmes and education projects based on the Government's Playing for Success scheme. A new 3G astro-turf pitch and changing facilities will also be laid at the north end of the ground for use by both clubs and the wider community expanding access opportunities for rugby and football but also hockey and even archery, softball and American football. These plans will also support proposals to improve facilities and opportunities for B&SRFC's Mini and Junior sections as well as for other teams using Portway, principally Solihull RUFC. The critical funding necessary to see these plans through to fruition is to be raised from the sale of the rugby club at Sharmans Cross Road, which has long being recognised as not being fit for purpose. The Damson Park application will be considered hand in hand with one for new homes earmarked for Sharmans Cross Road. But what can you do to help Show your support for the keystone planning applications by simply adding your details to the "I Support Sport in Solihull" petition and together we can support keeping our highest ranked football and rugby clubs sustainable, whilst enriching sport for all, whether watching, participating or volunteering. Thank you.

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