This in from Newport Football Club, in their own words. Ed
Plans for an alternative ASDA supermarket site in Newport which includes the relocation of Newport IW Football Club have been submitted by the owners of the land where the football ground currently resides.
The owners of the land, SCL, submitted the alternative plans last month (embedded below for your convenience)
A statement from the Newport IW Football Club Supporters Trust, owners of the Football Club reads:
“The Trust wish to thank SCL for the efforts they have made to provide the club with long term security and we look forward to the resolution of this situation. We now need to allow planning officials to make their decision, then we will be in a position to make informed decisions about how the club can progress.
“To all our supporters, please be assured that our main concern would always be the standard of the pitch and the management’s focus would be around the viability of the clubhouse.”
Chairman of the Football Club, Paul Phelps added:
“You may be aware that South Coast Leisure, who are the landlords of the Club have recently submitted their plans for our future ground which offers ASDA an attractive alternative to their original plans. So that everybody is fully up to date, the following display of information was shown to the public in Newport on Saturday 22nd June 2013 and from more than 130 visitors, a unanimous “yes please” was the main comment.
“My opinion is that ASDA will relish more building space, greater car-parking area, the provision of easier walk-ways and access to the Town by their customers.
“From the Club’s viewpoint, we shall be given a new pitch, new stadium, new floodlights and facilities equal to Southern League standards. In addition, we can continue and increase our involvement with the whole community, not only as a venue for all sorts of functions, but particularly by encouraging football and other sports for the disabled both on the pitch and inside the stadium, as well as providing a special room for them to watch Newport’s matches along with another room as a respite area.
“So all in all this is a most satisfactory solution for everybody – ASDA, ourselves, shoppers and in fact all of the community. I commend it to you. And yes, in answer to the most asked question, our Sunday car-boot will definitely continue! May I ask you to help the Club by either writing or e-mailing the Planning Department of the Council at Seaclose with you support, as it is vital that the Council are made aware of the opinion of all our supporters and all people who are supportive of the continuation of Newport Football Club for many years to come. Thank you.
