Sports hub on target for 2016

Plans for a sports hub to open in Newark within two years are on course.

Mr Charles Daybell, chairman of the Newark Sports Association (NSA) said the hub, planned for Elm Avenue, could be ready for spring 2016.

He said applications for funding would be submitted when a playing pitch strategy was completed.

The strategy will provide an assessment of playing pitch provision in the area and will be used as a consultative document with funding applications to bodies such as Sport England.

Mr Daybell said the NSA was keen to recruit sports clubs as members to help improve facilities and co-operation between groups.

He said the original plans for the hub, which feature two football pitches, an athletics track, cycle track, tennis courts and netball courts, were not the final version and other clubs and sports might get facilities within the hub.

Mr Daybell said increased membership of the NSA would add weight to funding applications.

The association hopes to raise £5m. Newark Town Council has donated £500,000 towards the hub.

Mr Daybell said: “It’s important that we join forces. We need to increase the membership to get clubs working and talking together.

“We want to know what people want. We would like to get to 100 members, and 200 members would be good. People should be wanting to see sports facilities in the town.

“We want to encourage firms to join. We’ve already got companies like Travel Wright, the Liz Hobbs Group, Benoy, and William Saunders on board.”

Anyone investing money can claim 20% tax relief on contributions because the NSA is a registered charity.

Clubs, businesses, and individuals can invest from £10 up to £20,000 in return for a vote on the committee and a dividend on shares.

The NSA is in talks with Newark and Sherwood District Council over co-ordinating plans for the hub with the town’s new leisure centre that will be be built on adjoining land, and also with Tarmac Ltd which owns land on Elm Avenue.

The NSA hopes to secure a 50-year lease on the Elm Avenue site with an option for a further 50 years, and wants to help clubs utilise other potential sports sites in the area.

Mr Daybell said: “We are looking at other sites that could accommodate sports clubs.

“When we say we want £5m, that could be for other things as well.”

To join the NSA or for information email Mr Paul Baggaley at psbaggaley@googlemail.com