Nottingham Athletics Club Urges Council for Urgent Stadium Repairs

Officials from Notts Athletics Club in Nottingham are expressing frustration over what they perceive as a lack of response from local authorities regarding essential repairs to their facilities. The club has highlighted the urgent need to resurface the track at Harvey Hadden Stadium and repair or replace the throwing cage, which are crucial for the club's activities.

Mick Robinson, the club's chairman, noted that the main stand has been fenced off and floodlights secured, limiting access for users. "The track is our primary concern; if it isn’t relaid soon, we may have to explore relocating," Robinson stated. He emphasized the importance of knowing the future of the track before investing in new equipment, as the current facilities are in dire need of repair.

Welfare officer Fiona Palmer echoed these sentiments, stressing the poor condition of the track, which is unable to adequately support the club's training sessions for the 50 to 100 children who attend on Wednesday nights. "It's just not fit for purpose," she remarked, underscoring the pressing need for upgrades.

The Harvey Hadden Stadium, established in the 1950s with contributions from local philanthropist Harvey Hadden, is managed by a trust that mandates its maintenance by Nottingham City Council. However, Robinson pointed out that recent months have seen no communication from the council regarding the closure of the stand, which has been locked off due to health and safety concerns.

In response, David Mellen, the council's executive member for leisure, culture, and tourism, confirmed that the stand was closed for safety reasons and that fencing was installed to prevent unauthorized access. He assured that plans for necessary renovations are in progress, with an update expected later this year. Mellen emphasized the council's commitment to working with Notts AC while balancing the needs of various users of the stadium.

As the situation unfolds, the athletics club, which spends approximately £80,000 annually on facility hire and boasts 350 members, remains hopeful for a resolution that will secure the future of their training grounds.