Matter of time

THE debate over the future of Newark’s Gilstrap Centre has taken a new twist this week. Nottinghamshire County Council has seen an opportunity to acquire the building to use as a register office by bringing it into negotiations over the sale of land at Elm Avenue.

Newark and Sherwood District Council wants to buy the Elm Avenue land and allow it to be developed as a sports hub for the town.

There is no doubt Newark needs and deserves high quality sports facilities. Thousands of people in the area could benefit.

It would be great for Newark to have its football, cricket, athletics and tennis clubs all on the same site.

It’s a crying shame that Newark Town Football Club has to play its home games at Collingham, while Newark Athletic Club has to hold its home fixtures even further afield.

The district council faces a not unfamiliar dilemma if, as the county council says, the Elm Avenue deal “is dependent” on it selling the Gilstrap Centre.

The potential is there once again for conflict between the old and the new, and the need to retain Newark’s vital heritage and history while looking to the future.

There are sure to be strong arguments both for and against striking a deal.

The same problem has arisen with the listed cottages at the Robin Hood Hotel site.

They may look more and more out of place as the Potterdyke redevelopment continues, but opinion is divided as to whether they should be demolished or refurbished.

A balance has to be struck between looking back and looking ahead, and all opinions and implications carefully considered before decisions are taken.