Developer urged to reopen Newport football pitches

Two pitches off Audley Avenue have been fenced off for about three years by developers St Modwen.

The company plans to bring the sports pitches back into use when building work gets under way, as part of a Section 106 Agreement with Telford & Wrekin Council.

However, a start date is yet to be confirmed and town and borough councillor Peter Scott is calling on developer St Modwen to allow the community to use the pitches in Audley Avenue before it starts work on the site.

The independent councillor said: "Both of the pitches have been vacant for about three years now and they have been fenced off. Nothing has been done on the site and it lies derelict, so I don't understand why the community couldn't use them."

Plans to build 215 homes at Audley Avenue were given outline planning permission in June by Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee.

The need for extra pitches in the borough has been highlighted in a report by Telford & Wrekin Council. The issue was last night discussed by cabinet members at an authority meeting. In the council's Playing Pitch Strategy for 2016 it states there will not be enough pitches to meet demand for mini-football by 2019 and other junior and youth teams by 2026.

Julie Rossiter, senior asset manager at St Modwen, said: "The former Audco sports pitches form part of a wider residential development which will deliver enhanced sports facilities.

"The outline planning application was approved in July 2015, subject to agreement of final details. As part of the application the existing sports pitches and facilities will be upgraded; privately-owned pitches will be brought in to public ownership and a new sports pitch accessed via Burton Borough School will be accessible to the public.

"We are working closely with Telford & Wrekin Council to finalise the remaining terms and hope that full outline consent will be approved shortly."