YMCA confirmed as council's partner on Newark sports project

A new sports and community village in Newark has moved a step closer.

Nottinghamshire YMCA, which had submitted its business case and vision for the development to councillors, has been appointed Newark and Sherwood District Council’s partner to deliver and manage an activity village on a site off Bowbridge Road.

The council believes the YMCA can provide the best sports facilities for the town and wider district, in addition to developing a programme of community activities for children, young people and families.

The proposals will complement the council's nearby Newark Sports and Fitness Centre.

At last night's policy and finance committee meeting members also agreed to transfer the freehold interest of grazing land off Kelham Road, to the west of Newark, to the Newark R&M Cricket Club.

That will enable the club to vacate Elm Avenue, freeing up land for the proposed sports hub site, and have a second pitch at Kelham Road, which would be available for the 2018 season.

The development of a ten-wicket cricket pitch will be made possible by Section 106 money - funds developers are obliged to pay under planning law – which are earmarked for sports and recreation in Newark.

Separately, the Newark-based charitable organisation W.E. Knight Trust has agreed, in principle, to make a ‘significant funding’ contribution to the cricket club’s plans for a new pavilion at the Kelham Road site.

The cricket club will make alternative arrangements for the 2017 season and plans to use the new pitch from 2018.

District council leader Mr Roger Blaney said: "We are delighted to be working with Nottinghamshire YMCA on this exciting and forward-looking project which should transform sporting provision in Newark and wider district.

"By providing a solution to the issue of cricketing facilities, this will free up the entire Bowbridge Road site and make way for a start to be made on an this exciting project.

"The task ahead is to make sure that that what is proposed will bring the maximum benefit to the sporting and wider community in Newark and the surrounding area."

Craig Berens, director of operations and programmes at Nottinghamshire YMCA, said: “This is an amazing opportunity to create a space that will support healthy and participative activity for the people of Newark town, the Newark and Sherwood district and wider region.

"The space will be truly multi-functional.

"We’ve been exploring ways to incorporate a range of activities, sports and provisions which share a focus on healthy living and bringing people together.

"Confirmation from Newark and Sherwood District Council is a true testament to our charity’s hard work in creating healthier, more connected communities and we are very excited to be bringing our experience to Newark and Sherwood."

Newark Sports Association was set up to spearhead the provision of a multi-million pound sports hub for local clubs and organisations and had been part of a partnership agreement, also involving the district and town councils.

The agreement was set aside by the district council in October and Nottinghamshire YMCA has become its preferred option to deliver the hub.

Over the past few weeks since the Council set aside the partnership agreement we had with them, the Newark Sports association and its member clubs have met with the YMCA to try and ensure that their proposal will deliver the high quality sports facilities our members are keen to have access to in Newark.

Newark Sports Association chairman Mr Steff Wright said: "The initial idea of a sports hub on this site came from our member clubs when they formed the Newark Sports Association a few years ago.

"Since then members have worked hard to develop the concept, secure substantial funding and work up a viable business plan engaging the support of local businesses.

"Whilst there will be disappointment that the site has been handed to the YMCA and this funding and support from businesses will be lost, the main focus now needs to be to ensure that the YMCA deliver a sports hub in line with the aspirations we have all been working towards."