Virginia Water Football Club may back down over plan to build new stadium on field used for annual Egham Show

Virginia Water Football Club is desperate to expand from its cramped space at the Timbers in Crown Road.

But its plans to build a new stadium on Mrs Caddy's Field in Whitehall Lane, Egham has caused outrage among many residents.

The 19 acre greenbelt site is owned by Runnymede Borough Council and has been home to the Egham Royal Show for 15 years.

The borough has been in discussion with the Football Club about the possibility of a new stadium there - complete with a stand, floodlighting, a clubhouse with bar, changing rooms and parking for 170 cars.

But football club chairman David McBride faced a furious onslaught from Egham residents fiercely opposed to losing the field to sporting activity, when he addressed a packed public meeting held in Manorcroft School.

Now both the club and the borough council seem to be backtracking a bit.

Mr McBride said: "Virginia Water Football Club want to be sensitive and alive to local opinion. There is a determination to succeed and achieve long term ambitions but the club does not want to alienate the local community.

"We will now work with the council to find alternative options and see if we can make one of those work. The time delays are frustrating but essential if we are going to find a new home that fits well into the community."

Runnymede Borough Council's chief executive Paul Turrell, who attended the public meeting with several councillors said it was clear that 'substantial number of residents' did not support the use of Mrs Caddy's field as a sporting club.

He said: "There is also a cohort of residents that support the expansion and development of the club, it was always the council’s intention to listen to all views"

But he said: "We have been given a clear message that Mrs Caddy’s field is not thought of as a suitable location."

A report will go to the Community Services Committee of Runnymede Borough Council in Thursday, June 16.