PRELIMINARY work at the site of the new Newport Football Club ground at the Racecourse is to begin this week.

The main part of the works will be the creation of a visibility splay from the proposed access to the Racecourse, by cutting back the hedgerow. 

New hedgerow planting will be undertaken to compensate for this, with the works supervised by an ecological consultant, with the approval of the Isle of Wight Council. 

Newport FC chairman, Pete Westhorpe, said: “There are one or two issues that need to be agreed with the Isle of Wight Council before the main work on the new stadium can begin, but I know supporters will be encouraged to see this preliminary work get underway.”

Isle of Wight County Press: Newport have used Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes and Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde, as temporary homes since the club left St George's Stadium in 2019.Newport have used Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes and Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde, as temporary homes since the club left St George's Stadium in 2019.

The club is currently ground-sharing with Ryde Saints at Smallbrook, Ryde, while the new stadium is constructed.

Part of that ground-share agreement requires new floodlights at Smallbrook to be provided. 

Peter added: “I am pleased to say we are moving forward on this issue too and I expect there to be some tangible developments in the very near future.”

If remaining issues with the council are overcome, the hope is that work can commence on the new Racecourse stadium — to include an all-weather pitch, clubhouse and ample parking — in May and be completed in the autumn.