No objections from town council to stands provision at YMCA Community and Activity Village in Newark
Newark Town Council has raised no objections to a planning application by the YMCA to provide stands and turnstiles at its stadium off Lord Hawke Way, provided sufficient parking is guaranteed.
It is part of plans for the venue, off Bowbridge Road, to be able to hold major sporting and cultural events, such as the county championships and Newark Festival.
The applications for seating and stands at the YMCA village has been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council for decision.
However, the YMCA’s Community and Activity Village shares parking with the Newark Sports and Fitness Centre and there is already concern that the level of parking is inadequate.
The town council’s planning committee heard there were eight objections from neighbours over light intrusion and noise.
The committee will also seek assurances that light levels will be monitored.
Plans for seating and stands at the YMCA Community and Activity Village will not only allow for more significant footballing events and provision for step five football but also boost the town in terms of its cultural offering.
YMCA Newark and Sherwood and Newark and Sherwood District Council are collaborating for the major development to strengthen and future-proof the town's capacity for large-scale events.
The initiative is being jointly funded by the YMCA and the district council.
They say by introducing the stands, other events and activities can take place at the YMCA village on the scale of events such as Newark Festival.
Using periods when the pitches are not used for football, the village will be able to host more activities for the residents of, and visitors to, the district — which will be a huge improvement for the community.
The seating will also allow the village to welcome more significant footballing opportunities, such as county championship matches which require a higher level pitch provision than the district currently has.
Finally, the seating could allow the ground to be re-graded to a level which allows step five football to be played, future-proofing the facility.
