After years of homelessness, groundsharing and uncertainty, Horsham FC are asking for the community’s help to settle into a sustainable new home in an out of town location at Hop Oast, opposite the Park & Ride on Worthing Road/A24.

The location was suggested by Horsham District Council, supported by thousands of local people, and received Planning Officer's recommendation for approval. However, at the application hearing in January 2015, local councillors ignored the above and voted against the community facility, citing reasons such as lack of cycle lane and scaring horses.

This would be a modest home, virtually hidden behind trees, on existing leisure land next to Horsham Golf and Fitness.

It would provide a safe, all-weather 3G pitch which could be used by the entire local football community, including our own youth teams of, U15s, U16s and U18s, as well as other adult and children’s teams across the district who either have nowhere to play or train, or face dangerous frozen and waterlogged playing fields in winter.

The land in question is two redundant golf holes.

The closest residential area to the proposed football pitch (Denne Park) would be quarter of a mile away – that’s the same distance as from Horsham Station to the Carfax. Moreover, the ground would be entirely screened from view by woodland.

The Hop Oast location has excellent access to the A24 and is opposite the (currently under-used) Park & Ride with a frequent door-to-door bus service to and from the town, meaning little – if any – additional road traffic.

Of equal importance, this move would guarantee a 25-year lease to secure the future of The Holbrook Club in North Horsham which provides important sport and social facilities to our community, such as badminton, basketball, tennis, hockey and many more. It would also provide significant funding to Horsham Golf and Fitness to complete their 18-hole golf course, and establish a ‘Junior Golfers’ area in future.

We believe this to be a modest, sustainable proposal in an out of town location that would serve the entire Horsham District community with much needed sports facilities and help generations of young Horsham talent in years to come.

To read the full proposal, and Planning Officer's recommendation, please visit: https://public-access.horsham.gov.uk/public-access/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N68ONSIJ09L00 ;

Please support us in our quest for a home by signing our petition and leaving a comment below.

Thank you.

#Home4Horsham