Residents shared their views on plans to build at stadium in Yorke Drive at drop-in session at Bridge Community Centre

Residents raised concerns that plans for a new £1.5m sports stadium and how it could delay an estate’s regeneration scheme.

A drop-in session was held on Monday at the Bridge Community Centre, Newark, by the Gusto Group to hear people’s views on the plans for the 500-seater stadium on Yorke Drive.

There was a chance to ask questions and see the stadium model and plans.

Gusto’s founder and chairman Steff Wright, also chairman of Newark and Sherwood United, who would use the ground, said: “We have got a vision for this and we think it will transform the community. We think it will help to transform Newark in lots of ways.

“But as you develop the idea, what you need to do is get other people’s ideas and that's what we're doing, listening to people.

“Without that feedback, it isn’t a community project, it’s just somebody coming in and saying this is what we’re going to build down here and that isn’t where we are.”

As people raised concerns about the stadium’s project slowing down the long-planned regeneration project, Steff reassured them that they had no intention to affect the works and that the group believes it is possible to do both projects without harming one another.

They will submit a pre-application to Newark and Sherwood District Council which then will lead them to talks with Sports England, Highways and Lovell Partnerships, the Yorke Drive regeneration scheme developers.

Yorke Drive resident Amanda Richards said: “I think it looks incredible and the facilities they are offering are amazing.

“As the mum of a little boy, I think it is a fantastic opportunity for the children around here.”

Resident Tracy Postman also agreed that the idea would be beneficial for the area, especially for children as there isn’t anywhere this scale on that side of town.

The stadium will be made of 66 repurposed shipping containers, with solar panels with battery storage, as well as rainwater harvesting technology, and will include enclosed stands, a bar and sponsors area, balconies overlooking the 3G pitch, changing rooms and facilities, with a training pitch adjacent.

There are plans to have Men In Sheds at the stadium as well as to have Carl Graves’ boxing academy using the stadium for training and shows.

If approved, the Gusto team is looking at hosting concerts and other shows.

Jed Wright, of Gusto Group, said: “I don’t think it will take much convincing to show people the benefits of these plans.

“It is not just a football stadium, it is a community stadium with Men in Sheds, with the boxing gym, with different types of events such as live music and boxing shows.

“All of these different things and explaining the viewing experiences kind of sells itself.”

Diane Ledger, a Yorke Drive resident said: “The plans are good. They have said that the stadium will be made affordable for everyone but the only reason I can’t 100% support it right now is because there are too many things up in the air about if it will affect the development and the plans on the regeneration scheme.

“We have been waiting eight years for that decision to get passed through planning and it finally got passed and we are all excited, yes it is finally going to start and then this comes along.”

She said if the plans for the stadium had come five years ago as part of the original regeneration scheme, she would’ve been supportive.

Ginnette Hardy, another Yorke Drive resident shared her concerns: “I would love to see it down here provided it doesn’t hold up the planning.

“The planning has now gone through but we don’t want to hold up to what has already been agreed. But, if it doesn’t affect anything else, it will be really good as there is nothing on this side of the town.

Dave Thompson said he was all for the plans as long as they were a mixture of the sports element and the community.

He believes the stadium will not only benefit the people in Yorke Drive but the whole town.