WITH regards to the front page in the World on the redevelopment of the former Hutchinson Street stockyard, we at West Bank Swan ARLFC would like to point out that in fact there are two amateur open rugby league teams associated with the name West Bank - West Bank Bears and West Bank Swan.
West Bank Bears, after a number of seasons of not playing, have this season reformed and are playing the sixth division of the North West Counties League.
West Bank Swan has also formed a team this season, but because of the tender age of some of the players, we are only playing friendlies this season with a view to playing in the sixth division of the North West Counties League next season.
At the time of print we have 22 players that have signed on for the West Bank Swan ARLFC, of which 14 are West Bank residents.
There are also six committee members who also are residents of West Bank.
You would reasonably expect that our team, with 20 residents involved, would be able to play our games on either the McDermott Road, West Bank dock estate pitch (the current West Bank Bears pitch) or alternatively the new development at Hutchinson Street) - wrong!
If it is right what we have been told by a West Bank Bears official, the two sites are for the sole use of West Bank Bears players only.
We at West Bank Swan ARLFC would like to congratulate Paul Farrell and all the West Bank Bears for their involvement in the development of the two sites and would like to add that we do not wish to take over the development or any of the completed development clubhouses, etc.
All we require is an undertaking to be able to use the available training areas, facilities and pitch for our home games.
We would request that Halton Council includes a provision for West Bank Swan ARLFC and any other team from the area that may emerge in the future, be offered the same benefits in the 25 year lease, as West Bank Bears are currently being offered.
We at West Bank Swan ARLFC just want to run our own club and co-exist alongside West Bank Bears and enjoy our rugby.
The committee and the players of West Bank Swan call on the support of Halton Council officers and elected representatives, especially those councillors, Ted Gleave and Dave Leadbetter to act on our behalf on this matter.
We would like to thank Pam Wallace and the West Bank Community Forum for their support.
We would also like to thank the West Bank community in general who to date have generously funded our team for which we cannot thank them enough, one and all.
James Brady, Committee Member, West Bank SWAN ARLFC
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