A FORMER sports ground in Newbury, West Berkshire has been demolished after the site went up in flames last month.
The West Berkshire Council commenced the destruction of the Faraday Road sports pitch, former football training grounds for Newbury FC, at the end of August, with the project taking less than a week to complete.
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According to the council, the work is being undertaken by local contractors after an assessment concluded the remaining structures were a risk to public safety in their then-current state.
The decision to demolish the site was also recognised as the most cost-effective course of action, given the cost of making the site safe once again.
Commenting on the demolition, West Berkshire Council's Leader, Councillor Lynne Doherty, said: "The fire at the former football ground was regrettable and we have worked closely with the relevant authorities since the incident, including in bringing forward the demolition of the former clubhouse on urgent public safety grounds.
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"In its current state the site presents a risk to the public and we have acted quickly to prevent further access to the site and to demolish the remaining buildings on the professional advice of Building Control, and where the Health and Safety Executive have advised we must be guided by Building Control."
This comes after the Council announced plans to build a new sports stadium, changing rooms and a function room at Newbury Rugby Club's site, effectively serving as a replacement for the football club's site which closed in 2018.
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The new site, which is approximately just short of three miles away from the former football club site, is expected to open in March 2022.
Alongside this, the council has decided to continue works on more than 150 homes in the Faraday Road industrial estate including 160 apartments, 330 car parking spaces, shops, offices, restaurants, an apart-hotel, and a car dealership.
The councillor added: "We remain committed to bringing the site forward as part of an exciting new development on the London Road Industrial Estate and in the meantime will proceed with the live planning application on the former football ground, which will see it opened up as green space for use by local residents."
For more information, visit info.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=38469.
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