Key to our success going forward are the changes being made to the ground. The new North stand has increased the capacity of the Stoop to nearly 10,000 and represents the first step in our goal to transform the ground into a venue fit for Zurich Premiership rugby in the 21st century. However, the new North stand alone is not enough and we are sure you will be aware that the club brought forward proposals for a new West stand earlier this year.

The new West stand would provide our club with the necessary level of seating, hospitality and commercial facilities from which to create a stable financial base and secure our long-term future. A planning application for the new stand was submitted to Richmond Council in April and, we hope, will be considered by the Council's Planning Committee by the end of October.

It is vitally important to the future of our club that the planning application is approved as soon as possible so that we can begin construction of the stand in January 2005 and have it ready for the start of next season.

We would therefore like to ask for your help in ensuring Richmond Council approve our planning application this month. You can do this by writing to the Planning Department at the following address and expressing your support for the new West stand:

Mr Chris Tankard
Area Planning Officer
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
TW1 3BZ

You can also email the Council direct at the following email address: envprotection@richmond.gov.uk

It is important that you quote the planning application number (04/1149/FUL) on your correspondence and that you include your own address so that the Council can see the level of support, particularly from local people.

We cannot overstate the importance of the new West stand to this club and would like to thank you for your continued support.