Preliminary work at the site of the new Newport Football Club ground at the Racecourse is to begin this week, with an aim of having the new ground completed by the Autumn.
The main part of the works will be the creation of a visibility splay from the proposed access to the Racecourse by cutting back the hedgerow. New hedgerow planting will be undertaken to compensate for this and the works are being supervised by an ecological consultant, with the approval of the Isle of Wight Council.
Newport FC chairman Peter Westhorpe said:
“There are one or two issues that need to be agreed with the Isle of Wight Council before the main work on the new stadium can begin but I know supporters will be encouraged to see this preliminary work get underway.”
The club is currently ground-sharing with Ryde Saints at Smallbrook, Ryde while the new stadium is constructed. Part of that ground-share agreement requires new floodlights at Smallbrook to be provided.
Peter added:
“I am pleased to say that we are moving forward on this issue too and I expect there to be some tangible developments in the very near future.”
If remaining issues with the council are overcome, the hope is that work can commence on the new Racecourse stadium – including an all-weather pitch, clubhouse and ample parking – in May and be completed in the Autumn.
Great ! This paves the way for joining Newport with East Cowes and Wootton, can’t wait for the development of all those green fields in between.
(It should, of course, have been at Seaclose)
What is the matter with the ground next door to Asda? We don’t want any more out of town shopping areas which are killing Newport High Street.
Yes please don’t build another out of town fast food drive thru or supermarket when I’d rather get stuck in a traffic jam going into Newport town centre, then pay £2 parking to walk around shops I don’t want to shop at.
Me me me me me.
Horses for courses.
Think of the bigger picture instead of your own selfish little life, or think of your future grandchildren, even.
Says the person who is ‘bonfire happy’ on another post. I don’t like sitting in traffic and paying for parking, and my offspring probably won’t either.
The Port should never have left Church Litten. Wait another 5 to 10 years and a Costco or something similar will be transplanted in and another green field somewhere else will be cucked. Rinse and repeat until Big Box Retail is satisfied or the IOW runs out of green fields. Slowly destroying why both tourists and residents alke love the Island
The rights and wrongs of Newport being hoofed out of St George’s are now immaterial. It has happened.
So that lump of Racecourse land will get built on sooner or later, I would much rather a football ground than yet another housing estate because make no mistake, building on some form will happen there.
If our planners and council wallahs had any sort of a brain, they would embrace the opportunity and get a park and ride along with it. Park and ride for East Cowes ferry that is. Then get the Newport line extended to Whippingham and give us some proper joined up transport services.
But what will we get? We’ll be lucky to get a pelican crossing