Major facility development plans unveiled by Newtown clubs

Newtown Rugby Club, Newtown Cricket Club and Newtown Tennis Club officials welcomed dignitaries and guests to discuss exciting and ambitious plans to make the Recreation Ground the heart of the community in a scheme led by Drenewydd Actif - Active Newtown.

The club wants to make the Pool Road ground as vibrant as the once famous annual Royal Welsh Warehouse sports days which attracted thousands of people to the fields from across Britain more than a century ago.

Key to the club’s plans is accessing grant aid develop new changing facilities.

The changing rooms, used by members of all three clubs and visiting players, has not been updated in almost half a century and Newtown Rugby Club chairman James Holloway expected it to be deemed no longer fit for purpose within the next five years.

The Active Newtown group launched the next phase of its development last week.

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As such the clubs have combined in a joint bid to access the grant aid required to develop a new modern facility which will feature a community hall and a gym specialising is weightlifting and mental health.

The plans include the development of a two-storey building which would include new changing rooms, a CrossFit gym with mid Wales’ only Olympic weightlifting facility, and a fully accessible multipurpose upper floor space for indoor sports such as bowls, yoga and softball.

Suzy Hawkins at the Active Newtown launch last week.

The new facilities would also help combat Britain’s economic crisis and serve as a warm space and hub for all people struggling to keep their warms heated or battling social isolation.

Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams and Montgomeryshire MS Russell George were each present along with Newtown councillor Joy Jones.

A Drenewydd Actif - Active Newtown spokesman said: “Thanks to all who came and listened to our development plans, filled out surveys and filled themselves with festive treats.

Russell George MS, Craig Williams MP and cllr Joy Jones.

“We are so excited to move forward with our next step in the project of finalising our planning application and securing funding to make this long awaited and highly anticipated development for our community come to life.

“We are all so grateful for your continued support.”

Now the club has asked for Newtown community groups to support their efforts.

“In the meantime we are looking for local community organisations or people that would love the chance of a warm space in our clubhouse," added the spokesperson.

“This doesn’t just have to be current groups who are looking for a space to meet, it could be that you want a warm space to save on heating costs or meet socially.

“We are hoping to apply for some funding to bring this to our community free of charge but for a successful application we need to hear from you.”