POOLE Town have unveiled their plans to create a community sports facility, including a new stadium, in Creekmoor.
Dolphins have led a nomadic existence for three decades, having left Poole Stadium in 1994.
Many plans and proposals have come and gone since, Poole instead still playing their football at Tatnam Farm, adjacent to Oakdale Junior School.
Last August, the club secured an extension to the lease at the venue until 2029.
But plans to move to a new venue elsewhere are progressing, with Poole now revealing the full extent of their plans to move to Creekmoor.
The site in question is on currently unoccupied green space, opposite Upton Country Park, on the other side of the A350.
As well as a new stadium, Poole have revealed plans for the site include a café, nursery, community hub, sports centre and park and ride area.
(Image: Poole Town/Google Maps)
Club director Richard Gale said: “As many people are now aware, as a football club we have a concept in place for a new football ground and training space for Poole Town FC, the concept also includes increased nursery facilities, a community hub, a multi-use games area, cycle and walking links, a sports centre and sports village comprising of independent sport and recreation providers.
“At present, Poole Town Football Club does not have its own space to operate from.
“In addition to the men’s first team, the club have an under-19s side as well as two ladies’ teams, who all struggle to find pitches to play and train on due to the severe lack of sports facilities within BCP.
“A dedicated space to harness all these teams, as well as the 21 junior teams of Poole Town FC Wessex, would result in a tenfold increase in the good work of the club, and provide space for increased collaboration with other community organisations.”
Poole Town have combined with YMCA Bournemouth and the Gale Foundation Trust CIO to come up with the concept plan, which has been submitted as part of BCP Council’s Local Plan consultation.
The organisations say they are “now seeking support and investment to enable the delivery of this scheme”.
Dolphins are keen to stress the proposals are to help the community and families, not just the football club.
Their Kids Initiative this year has run around 200 free football coaching sessions for children aged five to 13.
The statement adds: “The future of the Creekmoor scheme is reliant on support from key stakeholders including BCP Council.
“First, the land must be allocated for community benefit in the pending BCP Local Plan to enable the delivery of this scheme.”
It also states comments on the draft plan are due to be made public by BCP.
BCP have made further information public on the proposals here.
Poole currently compete in the seventh tier of English football, finishing 13th in Southern League Premier South last season, but have ambitions to make it into the Football League.
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