Newbury’s Sports Hub past the final hurdle
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/its-s-shining-light-for-local-sport-monks-lane-hub-gets-9242803/
News update late February 2022
The Sports Hub at Monks Lane squeezes through its district planning application approval.
Is this costly development really a replacement for Newbury’s football stadium?
More political football as councils clash over Newbury’s Monks Lane Sports Hub
Councils clash over Newbury sports hub development
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19834518.councils-clash-newbury-sports-hub-development/
News update early January 2022
West Berkshire Council remains deliberately non-committal on the crucial issue of whether the Monks Lane sports hub is a replacement for the Faraday Road stadium.
Newbury Town council challenges the dictrict council on this issue and their fundamentally flawed plan.
Newbury Today says, “Faraday Road green space opens for play”
West Berkshire Council says, “Opening of public green space at Faraday Road, Newbury”
http://westberks.gov.uk/article/39181/Opening-of-public-green-space-at-Faraday-Road-Newbury
News update December 2021
Keeping football’s home at Faraday Road will be a lot cheaper than squeezing a new ‘hub’ in the corner of a rugby club
Football let down by Sport England allowing Faraday Road to close while not objecting to the council’s unbuilt, inadequate replacement (contrary to their own playing fields policy).
Monks Lane sports hub planning application approved, but at what huge cost?
And how can a decent football team progress up the leagues when every Saturday afternoon the rugby club gets to choose which one match will be played?
Is it in the back of the net? Monks Lane Sports Hub proposal
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/monks-lane-sports-hub-proposal-edges-closer-9230524/
Monks Lane cash deal agreed behind closed doors
Goal?! Newbury’s Monks Lane Sports Hub gets go ahead amid cries of foul play
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/newburys-monks-lane-sports-hub-gets-the-go-ahead-vote-9231070/
Newbury Rugby Club will get wads of council cash for football pitch hire
https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/newbury-rugby-club-wads-council-22473412
Plans for football to return to Newbury’s Faraday Road approved – but council still intends to move football to Monks Lane
See the applications here:
Reference 20/01530/OUT
Application Validated Thu 13 Aug 2020
Address Newbury Football Club Newbury Football Club Faraday Road Newbury RG14 2AD
Proposal Outline permission for replacement of clubhouse and new spectator stand at Newbury Football Ground. Matters to be considered: Access and Layout.
Status Decided
Decision Approval
Decision Issued Date Thu 25 Nov 2021
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref=20/01530/OUT
Reference 20/01966/COMIND
Application Validated Tue 01 Sep 2020
Address Newbury Football Club Newbury Football Club Faraday Road Newbury RG14 2AD
Proposal Renewal and expansion of the existing football pitch to form a new 3G main pitch and a smaller 3G training / practice pitch
Status Decided
Decision Approval
Decision Issued Date Thu 25 Nov 2021
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref=20/01966/COMIND
News update late-November 2021
NCFG’s planning applications for 3G pitch and clubhouse at Faraday Road approved!
Sport England “gives in” and withdraws its holding objection to the Monks Lane Sports Hub, but the FA aren’t happy as it’s simply not a replacement for Faraday Road and football can’t be played there on Sunday league mornings. And nor is it really a hub with only one pitch and just two sports.
See the news blog for our interview with ITV News (well, it was withdrawn after WBC complained!), the latest report on the hub’s huge costs and of course our planning victory!
Extra £2m costs claims for Monks Lane Sports Hub in Newbury
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/council-grilled-over-football-costs-in-newbury-9227122/
News update early November 2021
While everyone’s distracted by COP26 and the local COVID rise, West Berkshire Council quietly removes the floodlights and perimeter fencing from the Faraday Road football ground to “make it safe” without seeking planning approval.
See here for what the Newbury Town councillors and football supporters think.
Football could return to Newbury site after four years without a home
(including interview with NCFG!)
Fence protest by Newbury town councillors at Faraday Road football ground
