A football club on the brink of bankruptcy has moved closer to safety after winning over councillors on Monday.
Molesey Football Club were staring closure in the face and the end of their 100-year legacy if an on-site planning application was not approved by Elmbridge Council’s north area planning committee this week.
The club, which succeeded with the first phase of their application with five votes for and one against, needs to overcome one more hurdle to build 20 new affordable homes on unused grounds at their Walton Road site, in a bid to ensure a debt-free future.
The approval comes after months of extensive public consultation with exhibitions and meetings with planners, councillors and neighbours.
Club spokeswoman Debbie Harry said: “We are of course pleased that local councillors have approved our application but we still need to get the support of the main planning committee.”
A campaign petition to Save the Moles was also signed by more than 800 fans and presented to the council in attempt to keep the club open.
Mrs Harry said: “No one wanted to speak against the proposals at committee. We are very hopeful a sensible agreement can be reached.”
Councillor Ernest Mallet previously accused the club of deliberately using an emotional campaign to squeeze plans through.
One of the major criticisms of the scheme was access on to Walton Road, which the Moles said they were working with the planning authority.
With more than 50 objections to the development, the matter will be discussed further at a meeting of Elmbridge Council’s full planning committee on Tuesday, March 27, where the plan is recommended for approval.
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