Long-suffering Newport supporters met with property developer Tony Wake of South Coast Leisure to discuss ‘progress’ on the new ground on the Racecourse at Whippingham last night (Monday).
There was a distinct sense of déjà vu to this gathering at The Castle pub as a similar meeting was held in August when it was confidently predicted that building work on the new ground would be started the following month (September) and finished by the end of March 2023.
Back in February this year, Island Echo reported that work was due to begin and the ground would be completed by the Autumn. But with winter now here, there is no sign of a spade in the ground – let alone the ground being ready for play.
It was some 5 years ago in November 2017 that Island Echo first reported that Newport IW FC would be relocating to Whippingham.
The County Town club have previously predicted that work on the new ground would begin in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Over the previous 4 seasons, the Port has ‘lodged’ at Beatrice Avenue (home of East Cowes Vics) and Smallbrook (Ryde Saints’ home ground). During that time Newport IW FC purchased new floodlights for Saints, but the building work on their own ground has yet to get off the ground.
Tony Wake now claims that all the planning permissions for work on both the St George’s site and the new ground have been obtained. The latest forecast is that all pre-commencement conditions will be met by January 2023 and that the actual work will begin in March.
Newport will supposedly be playing at their new ground in the 2023/24 season.
As proof, Mr Wake has shown Island Echo the following statement from planning consultant, Paul Airey:
“I can confirm that planning approval has now been granted for the Retail Park at St Georges and for the adjoining Phase 2 proposal, as well as for the replacement football ground at the Racecourse.
“We are now in the process of discharging all the pre-commencement conditions at the Retail park and the Phase 2 scheme and are making good progress on these with the Local Planning Authority. The pre-commencement conditions at the Racecourse have already been discharged.
“There are also a number of planning applications under consideration for signage at the St Georges site.”
Tony Wake stated at the meeting:
“No-one wants it [the new ground] to happen more than me. I hope we can start in March. But it’s not a promise.”
31st March is the deadline for entry to the FA Cup and FA Vase competitions. If Newport IW FC have neither a ground nor a leasehold in place by that date, then they will not be able to enter either competition. Furthermore, their future in the Wessex League will also be doubtful.
The Port has attracted many top Island players this season and currently lie in 5th place in Wessex Division 1. The problems with the club are off-the-field issues rather than with the current 1st team.
Manager Steve Brougham said at the meeting:
“We can have as many meetings as we want. What we need is a ground. Otherwise, we don’t have either a youth team or a reserve team.”
Newport Chairman Peter Westhorpe has said:
“It will be very difficult to keep our team next season without visible progress.”
More rubbish will now be deposited throughout the town once this eyesore has been built.
Always the same cheap retail stores appearing all over Island.
Shame they can’t build a decent Mosque in the town.
I notice that he only says March, NOT March 2023 ! Any guesses which March he means ??
March. !!! Get on with it. Newport (IOW) need this new home now.
Good lads playing great football.
UTP
Get on with it, this club need their own ground now! Really not good enough, the old site is an eyesore and needs developing into something worthwhile and the Racecourse needs developing into a decent ground, gone on far to long.
Mr wake has got what he’s wanted again. If anyone believes for 1 second a ground will be built they are crazy.
Newport sold it’s soul to the devil when they moved from Church Litten,
and now they have done the same at St. Georges park.
So little sympathy from me.
And the rich get richer, the council should have stipulated, football ground first, before starting on the unwanted retail park. But then, that’s the council for you. Perhaps an investigation into finances into some of our senior past councillors.
Given the time scale so far, why were Newport not allowed to play at St. George’s Park until this was all settled?
Did the powers to be think that perhaps the club would fold and so not need a replacement ground at all?
I think Newport Football Club are playing extra time at the moment with little prospect of a penalty shoot out if there is no result.
I am sure this will be built at the same time as the island technology park in whippingham delivers its promised thousands of new high paid high skilled jobs and at the same time as pennyfeathers delivers all that marine based employment along the medina on that prime waterfront apartment land that was set aside for it
Will this go where Giddens ripped out a nice 100 year old hedge row and left it looking like a baron wasteland?
If this is progress God help us. Just hope the Racecourse stretch of road is widened to accommodate more traffic and the ignorant cyclists that prefer to dice with death rather than use the well maintained cycle path which runs along the side of the main road.