Town football club hoping to expand facilities

The club wants to expand to accommodate women's and youth teams

A football club is hoping to expand its facilities to accommodate women's and youth teams.

Newent Town AFC wants to build new changing rooms, a fitness room and create two youth pitches behind their current ground at Wildsmith Meadow in Malswick.

The club, nicknamed the Daffs, was established in 1920 and competes in the regional Hellenic Division One.

Forest of Dean District Council is set to consider the plans on 21 January.

Currently, the club has a first-team pitch, with a stand and floodlights, along with a clubhouse, changing rooms and car park.

It hopes to develop the field to the rear of the ground which has been used for sheep grazing.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust initially objected to the scheme and requested alterations to accommodate the reinstatement of the canal route across the site.

But the objection was withdrawn following a meeting between the Trust and the district council, with a new route put forward, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The plans are strongly supported by the local parish council, and district council officers have recommended them for approval, saying it will allow the club to cater for a wider demographic.