WATER company bosses have withdrawn an objection which could have proved a barrier to permission being granted for a ground share between a football club and a rugby club.

Darlington FC and Darlington Rugby Club have agreed a deal to share the rugby club's Blackwell Meadows ground.

It it is hoped the partnership will see Quakers return to the town when the new season starts in August, following a three-year exile in Bishop Auckland.

The plans, which will be debated by Darlington Borough Council's planning committee next week, include increasing the ground's capacity to 2,500 with the potential to further increase that to 3,000 in the future if required.

Also included in the plans are an upgrade to the existing clubhouse, an extension to changing facilities, the installation of dugouts and turnstiles, floodlight improvements, the creation of 500 parking spaces and better vehicle access at the junction with Grange Road.

Northumbrian Water had objected to the proposals because of a raw water main beneath one of the proposed new stands.

The plans have been amended to relocate the stand to the south boundary of the pitch and the stand redesigned to remove a standing area.

A Northumbrian Water spokeswoman confirmed the company had withdrawn its objection as a result of the plans being amended.

Papers prepared for the planning committee – which meets at 1.30pm on April 8 at Darlington Town Hall – stipulate that traffic regulation orders would need to be introduced in neighbouring areas to avoid the risk of football supporters parking on public highways.

It is proposed to introduce double yellow lines on a number of surrounding streets, including Grange Road, Carmel Road South, Croft Road and Snipe Lane.

The council has received one letter of objection to the proposals, which reads: "Not long ago, Blackwell Meadows was a peaceful area. It bordered the last remaining entry into the town of a reasonably attractive appearance.

"Then it was turned into a rugby club. Now it will become a football club with some associated disgusting behaviour of followers.

"Vehicle parking will result in the local vicinity... and you can imagine accidents."

Despite this objection, football club chief executive Martin Jesper remains confident the plans will be approved.

He said: "There is no reason to believe that we will not get the approval we need.

"There are likely to be conditions [attached to the approval], as is normal with any planning application."

Meanwhile, Quakers has extended until Monday an initiative in which fans can buy five-year season tickets to help fund the return to Darlington.