Sports Centre Approved

Last night Elmbridge Planning Committee unanimously gave approval to the application for a new football stadium with spectator seating and facilities that meet all necessary modern requirements and governing body standards. The stadium will be available for use by Walton Casuals, Walton Casuals Juniors Football Club and Walton & Hersham Football Clubs. The facilities will also be available for casual use and hire. There will be new astro turf and grass pitches designed to cater for junior and senior football and youth development. It is also intended that an eight lane all-weather track athletics stadium with a spectator stand and all the necessary modern facilities will be ready in time for the World Athletic Championship 2017 which is to be held in London. In addition to this there will be an enhancement of the existing park to provide a new multi-use recreational space as well as a children's play area which was lost when the new Xcel was built. Because the development is over 1,000m2 and in the green belt, the final planning decision is with the national government.  In any case the decision to build the sports centre together with the costs and funding for the project will be made later this month with the intention for it to be operational in 2016.