Nottinghamshire County Council will receive half of the proceeds from the sale of the disused green space on Elm Avenue.
Half of the proceeds from the sale of the disused green space at The Stadium will be going to Nottinghamshire County Council.
An application, by Newark and Sherwood District Council, will see nine detached houses – seven five-bedroom properties and two four-bedroom homes – built on the disused green space at The Stadium, on Elm Avenue.
The land was previously rented by William Tidd Pratt, who in the early 1900s, agreed terms with the Duke of Newcastle so that he might rent some green land for local children to play sport.
Mr Pratt oversaw the maintenance of this land for more than 20 years but in 1933, after more than 20 years of generously renting and maintaining The Stadium at a cost of around £100 a year, it was intimated the owners were not prepared to renew the existing lease under the same conditions, and that any new tenancy might be subject to six months’ notice.
William brought the matter to the attention of the local education committee and in June that year Newark Education Authority bought the land from the Duke of Newcastle for £500, plus legal fees and stamp duty.
In 1941, William transferred to the Newark Education Committee his property built on The Stadium.
In a letter, William said: “It has always been my intention eventually to hand over to the Education Committee my property, which is on The Stadium ground in Elm Avenue.
“It consists of the fence around the ground; the grandstand; six sheds; goalposts and other property.
“I feel the time has come when I should like to hand over this to the Education Committee with thanks to them for the consideration they have always shown me since they left me to be the manager.
“I hope, however, they will, till further notice, leave me in the same position and at the same time I should like to continue to keep up the ground and the property on it.”
After Mr Pratt's death in 1956, the county council continued to maintain the land. Sport continued at that site until few years ago when a high fence was erected, and football teams were unable to afford the fees for the use of the pitch and the maintenance fees.
Now it has been revealed that the district council purchased the land for just £1 from the county council and an agreement reached that if sold, half of the profits from the sale of the land will be going to Nottinghamshire County Council, with the other 50% going to help fund the new YMCA facilities on Bowbridge Road.
A Newark and Sherwood District Council spokesman said: "Previously, this land was owned by Nottinghamshire County Council before being transferred to Newark and Sherwood District Council. The county council continues to have an interest in the land and as such, if it is sold for development, the county council receives 50 per cent of the sale proceeds with the other 50 per cent being allocated to help fund the cost of new facilities at the YMCA Community and Activity Village off Bowbridge Road.
Paul Baggaley, secretary of the Newark Sports Association, said: “In the hearts and minds of Newark people the Stadium land belongs to the people of Newark. It's now clear that Newark ratepayers bought the land and Tidd Becher Pratt intended that the land to be used to benefit Newark schools and Newark school children. The fact that it fell into the hands of Notts County Council is an accident of history.
"Newark has always been under provided in terms of green and open space and the loss of playing fields like Cedar Avenue, Lincoln Road and Bowbridge Road will only increase under provision.
"What we need and have been calling for is for Newark and Sherwood DC to think again and to consult and engage the local community.”
