West Berkshire plan to light up Newbury Town approved

Newbury Town’s Faraday Road will soon be able to host evening matches after West Berkshire’s plan to install floodlights at the ground was approved last Thursday.

The Thames Valley Premier League side have applied for promotion this season to Step 6 and would need the lights in place should they finish ahead of Maidenhead Town – the division’s other promotion applicant.

A similar scenario played out at Yateley United at the start of the 2023/24 season when the Hampshire side were awaiting completion of a floodlight project as the season began.

According to a BBC report, West Berkshire Council’s plan was approved, but a proposal to install an artificial surface has been delayed after concerns were raised about microplastics and rubber entering the River Kennet nearby.

Reporter Nathan Briant wrote: “The six lights will be put in place at Faraday Road, in Newbury, as part of a West Berkshire Council project, which initially proposed replacing its grass pitch with a 4G artificial one.

“That element of the plan has been delayed, however, after concerns were raised about microplastics in the 4G pitch entering the nearby River Kennet.

“The council’s planning committee formally approved the installation of the lights at a meeting on Thursday.”