MEMBERS of Otley Rugby Union Football Club have voted by an overwhelming majority to leave their historic Cross Green home.

The plan is for the 153-year-old club to relocate to land on the east of the proposed East of Otley relief road, which is due to connect the A659 (Pool Road) with the A660 (Leeds Road).

The new premises will be alongside Old Otliensians Rugby Union Football Club and Otley Town Football Club, and across the road from the 550-600 houses due to be built by Persimmon.

The land at Cross Green, meanwhile, is due to be sold for assisted living by award-winning retirement developers McCarthy and Stone.

Planning applications for both the new Otley RUFC headquarters and the assisted living complex will be submitted simultaneously to Leeds City Council, but the clock is ticking and there is the prospect of £6m of funding awarded to Leeds City Council to help develop the East of Otley relief road being withdrawn if things do not happen quickly enough.

"The catalyst is the East of Otley relief road and the £6m from the Government's Homes & Communities Agency," said former Otley RUFC chairman Paul Mackie, who is driving the potential relocation alongside immediate past Otley RUFC president Michael Procter.

"Our land from Persimmon is green belt, which is a bit of a challenge, but it should come under the exceptional circumstances clause."

Otley RUFC ultimately hopes to have nine pitches at its new £3-£4m premises – first XV, second-XV and third XV pitches, with the second-team pitch being 4G, and junior pitches for under-sixes, under-sevens, under-eights, under-nines, under-11s and 12s (one pitch) and under-13s.

Mr Mackie added: "There is great history at Cross Green, which is where the North of England beat the All Blacks in 1979, but what we ultimately have is a dilapidated rugby club."

Key local councillors in Otley have issued a joint statement about the proposals. They said: "This is a significant development and obviously important for the future of Otley Rugby Club.

"The club have spoken to ward Councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay and to Town Council Chair Ray Georgeson at length in recent weeks.

"We are confident that, provided planning considerations are well managed for both the expected Cross Green development and the new sports facilities East of Otley, the move will be a welcome one that provides a strong future for future generations of sports men and women in Otley.

"We stand ready to offer any support that may be needed."

Otley RUFC was founded in 1865, initially playing at Wharfeside, and moved to Cross Green in 1921, buying six acres of land for £2,100, plus £250 to move the stand from its old ground, as well as installing new pay-boxes.

The move was financed by subscriptions (£1,100) plus a £1,000 loan from the Rugby Football Union, which was repaid at £100 a year plus interest over the following ten years.

The first game at Cross Green was on September 17, 1921, when Otley beat Wakefield, but the official opening came 11 days later when Ilkley were the visitors.

Otley RUFC has also hosted Australia v North of England in 1988 and a World Cup match in 1991, between Italy and the United States.