Politicians this week, including Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies MS, have pledged support for a new facility at Active Newtown (formally Newtown Sports Club)
Montgomeryshire’s Member of the Senedd was pleased to undertake a visit, along with the Senedd’s Leader of the Opposition to Newtown Sports Club this week as it rebranded and also seeks support for its renovation project.
Russell George MS and Andrew RT Davies MS were joined by Craig Williams MP and Cllr Pete Lewington who were shown Active Newtown’s facilities by committee member James Holloway. Cllr Lewington had been successful in persuading Newtown town councillors to back his motions to support the Club’s efforts to improve its facilities.
The politicians have been working with Newtown Sports Club, which has recently re-branded as Active Newtown as part of its new vision, to improve the facilities by replacing the existing changing rooms with a new community sports and activities facility.
The tour was followed by a roundtable discussion with representatives from the rugby, cricket, and tennis clubs as well as the politicians to discuss the best way forward to secure funding for the renovation project.
The plans include new changing room facilities, as the existing changing rooms are not fit for purpose as requirements in relation to health and safety, child protection, female and disabled participation have increased.
In the last full calendar year before Covid, the club had over 18,000 visitors, of which over 14,000 participated in one or other of the sports provided.
Commenting, Russell George MS said:
“I am pleased to be supporting plans to renovate and modernise Newtown Sports Club, facilities at the recreation ground. The facilities will help support Newtown’s rugby, cricket, and tennis clubs, as well as wider sports and recreation activities.
“I want to thank Newtown Town Council for supporting the motions put forward by Cllr Pete Lewington, which helped continue the momentum for the project. It was very helpful for my colleagues Andrew RT Davies MS and Craig Williams MP to also take part in the discussions.
"We have three clubs that have worked together for many years that formed Newtown Sports Club, I wish them well as they re-name the group of clubs to Active Newtown. Between the three clubs, thousands of people from Newtown and the surrounding areas use the grounds, and the new planned facilities have my full support."
Cllr Peter Lewington added:
“It is fantastic to see all the support we are getting to improve facilities here and I know just how important for the local community it is to see these facilities modernised and improved.
“The process is not over yet, and engaging funding streams is essential to this and I am grateful to the volunteers at Active Newtown for their commitment to improving sports facilities in the town, and to Russell and Craig for their assistance throughout this journey so far. I look forward to making more progress very soon.”
