June start in mind for sports village

Work could start on Newark’s new sports and community village in June.

Nottinghamshire YMCA said it hoped the first phase of the project would be completed by the end of October.

This would include an athletics track, a 3G all-weather community pitch, carpark, embankment works, and the building of a temporary changing hub. The permanent hub would be built in the second phase.

Planning permission was granted in December for the multi-million pound development next to Newark Sports and Fitness Centre, on land off Elm Avenue.

Mr Todd Cauthorne, Nottinghamshire YMCA’s operations manager for children, young people and families, said: “The first phase is progressing well. The design team has had three to four meetings over the last eight weeks.

“We will be issuing tender packs to companies we have shortlisted for the first phase. When the packs come back at the end of April we will make a decision on who we go with.”

Nottinghamshire YMCA is waiting to hear from the Football Foundation over a funding bid that would allow it to include a second 3G community pitch in the first phase.

The second phase involves constructing a permanent building with changing rooms, while the third phase includes a cycle track, skate park and tennis courts.

The charity is exploring funding options for the courts.

'A big step forward for us'

Mr Cauthorne said: “There is LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) money for the project.

“For that, you have to have two projects in the same community.”

Mr Steve Scott, children and families project development manager, said: “We are looking at a variety of areas within Newark and Sherwood.

“We are keen on keeping it as Newark-centric as possible (and) we need to make sure that the tennis provision is better for everyone.”

Although timescales for the second and third phases have not been completed, Nottinghamshire YMCA said it wanted to finish the project by September 2020.

The new development is set to bring 80 jobs within three years of opening, including full-time and seasonal staff.

The new facilities have been welcomed by the chairman of Newark Athletic Club. Its members currently train on grass near Newark Academy.

Mr Don Evans said: “It is a big step forward for us. It will take us from a club with a grass field and a sand pit to a club that can do all of these other things.

“Since moving to the grass track around six years ago we have been able to maintain our middle distance training as the facilities there don’t affect that, but training will now be enhanced massively for events like sprints, hurdles and the long jump.

“We hope that we would run some open meets and league meets, which we cannot do now.”