Over the last few years, I’ve written about this a lot, trying in the process to distinguish the issues which (1) were pre-existing and (2) emerged as a result of trying to solve the problem caused by the closure of the football ground in 2018. All have become twisted together, like strands of unbrushed hair. As a result, it’s hard to discuss one without needing at least to refer to the others. I can think of over a dozen people, regular correspondents on such matters and influential locally, who’d give a different summary of this – it’s that complex.

This is my attempt to apply conditioner and a comb and to summarise where we are in December 2024. Like in 1066 and All That, there’ll be hardly any dates. I’m not going to mention much in the way of names and there’ll be no links.

The pre-existing problems. Aside from the fact that Newbury FC and WBC were, pre-2018, perhaps not engaged as closely as they might have been, the two main ones were (1) WBC’s long-standing desire to re-develop the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) area, despite manifest problems; and (2) even older problems of flooding and (inadequate) drainage in the area.

These two – which work against each other – are the main backdrop. Both still exist. The drainage issue is the more important as it impacts on anything proposed here.

The trigger. This was the closure of the ground in June 2018. There were three main problems: (1) there was no acceptance by WBC until later that it had any obligation to replace it; (2) it was predicated on the assumption that this would clear the route for a deal with a development partner which subsequently failed to materialise, as a result of legal action and other obstacles; and (3) it turned the local football community into an enemy.

It eventually became clear to WBC it did have to fix this, for a number of reasons including its own playing pitch strategy and Sport England’s regulations. So…

The solution. A ground of equal or better standard to Faraday Road, and within Newbury, was required. There wasn’t a lot of choice. The solution hit upon was a 3G pitch and various trimmings at Monks Lane on the site of Newbury RFC, which welcomed this for financial reasons. Others felt the arrangement was not equitable.

This gave rise to two problems: (1) a seemingly arcane, though actually legally pertinent, dispute about whether this was a replacement for Faraday Road or not; and (2) because of the haste with which the process was entered into, questions about the procurement and project management which still persist.

This became a legal, financial, sporting and political minefield which soaked up much time, energy and cash. Matters slowed: then, in the aftermath of the 2023 elections, were thrown into reverse.

The political dimension. The Lib Dems made returning football to Faraday Road an election pledge. They won. This started slowly (the first match was, with fanfare, in November 2023) and has preceded even more slowly since. The planning permission applied for by the Newbury Community Football Group was allowed to lapse; the playing pitch strategy, that supported the need for something of the standard of Faraday Road, went out of date; and no application has been made for funding for a 3G pitch (which would kill off plans for redevelopment). One might almost think that there are forces within WBC which would prefer the site were used for anything other than football.

WBC has none the less pushed on with getting Newbury FC back onto the pitch. As WBC’s stewardship before May 2023 resulted in most of the assets being disposed of, allowed to vanish or burn down, the new administration had little to work with. Restoration has been performed against conflicting complaints that it could have been done more cheaply or better; and that it shouldn’t have been done at all as this favours one area and one group.

The current situation. Neither of the main pre-existing problems (the LRIE-related ambitions and the drainage) have been addressed. The first asks questions about WBC’s overall commitment to restoring football at Faraday Road; while the second promises legal challenges from residents if any developments in the area, including a 3G pitch, are likely to increase down-stream drainage problems.

There are also other matters outstanding…

• We have a council politically committed to the football project, though to an unspecified standard or level of permanence.
• We have various obstacles preventing this happening to the extent or at the speed many would wish.
• We have a proposed “replacement” facility at Monks Lane for which planning permission and the budget line are still extant and surrounding which legal arguments still exist.
• We have a Scrutiny Commission task and finish group doing a deep-dive into the issues at Monks Lane.
• We have an overdue viability report into having a 3G pitch at Faraday Road which may, or may not, be to the liking of all at WBC.
• We have a questionable record of project management.
• We have a lot of money, time and energy spent.
• We have political and other points of opposition which have developed and in some cases become entrenched.
• We have a local football community that still feels aggrieved.

We also have a lot of people, PennyPost readers or otherwise, who have no particular interest in this and can’t understand what the fuss is about.

This is about making decisions, and the management of the projects that decisions lead to. In 2018, WBC took one based on an assumption of success (as regarded the LRIE re-development) and that the drainage problems would be solved by the developers, time or indifference. Neither of these happened. To this has been added a number of other problems. Overall, there’s a general sense that, all in all, WBC has not done terribly well on this.

Although some aspects are moving in the right direction, it’s worth remembering that, six years and many hundreds of thousands of pounds later, the town has a ground that is still less good than it was in 2018. Mind you, at least it has a ground, which was not the case 18 months ago. As mentioned, though, the current grass pitch is only part of the story.

Important aspects of this may still be an issue. In the meantime, I wish the current administration luck in cutting through the tangled knot. The main strands are the drainage and the real desire for a permanent 3G-pitch solution at Faraday Road: fix these, and most of the other issues dissolve. If not, see you on all this when the next elections happen in 2027 – and probably every week or so until then as well…

• I’m vividly aware that other opinions exist on the matter. If you would like to contribute any thoughts which will (once approved) be visible to readers of this post, please use the “Leave a comment” box below. If you would like to get in touch privately, email brian@pennypost.org.uk. Much as one might wish otherwise, I very much doubt that this is the last time the matter will need to be covered.