Newport sport hub could "open avenues" for town

Members of Newport Town FC, along with other clubs throughout the town, met with representatives of Telford and Wrekin Council to discuss their aspirations for a new home of sports.

Russell Griffin, of Telford & Wrekin Council said: "A meeting was hosted at the Burton Borough School, Newport with a range of partners to propose the development of a community sports hub that will facilitate closer working between clubs and community groups in Newport who share a common desire to offer the best possible sport facilities and ensure access for the whole community of Newport.

"As the initial meeting, agreement was reached that there was a shared vision to work more closely together and develop plans to develop facilities in the town, beginning with a short term focus on football, of which there are a wealth of junior and adult men’s and women’s teams clubs including Nova Utd, Newport town FC, the Newport ladies football team and Burton Borough School, but with a collective ambition to involve other sports in the town such as the cricket and the rugby in the future.

"This is an aspirational project and it was appreciated by all who attended that it would be a long term plan but that there were a number of practical steps could be taken in the first instance to kick start the process."

Councillor Eric Carter co-chaired the meeting with arts and culture services manager for Telford & Wrekin Council Psyche Hudson.

He said: "Everybody there was very positive – I was keen to ensure we were all singing from the same hymn sheet.

"There's been a lot of difficulties with different organisations in the past. That's not evident now.

"Now we've got a very good opportunity to form a sports hub, especially around the football teams.

"Newport Town FC will paticularly benefit from this. They have great ambitions, but need facilities with flood lights. That's now something we can look at over the next couple of years. Having a new pitch will open up other avenues for us.

"The Shuker Field and Burton Borough School are working together to help provide the necessary pitches.

"All in all, it was a very positive meeting. We're planning on an update around May, which will take us a bit further forward."

Councillor Peter Scott said: "We have yet to fully decide our future collective vision but it was good to see members of most local football teams there.

"Good discussion on what we all want to see happen. It is fair to say we are a long way from any type of sports hub for Newport just yet but now we have the input of others it could progress.

"It's important we don't get too carried away with what is possible."