Despite the weather conditions there was a respectable turnout for the meeting at the Hatherleigh Community Centre about developments at Beechwood Park.

Local residents were in attendance, as well as representatives of the Friends of Newport’s Ornamental Parks and Beechwood and Always councillors.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Mike Hamilton, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Continuing Learning and plans for the parks were presented by John Woods, Parks Development Manager and Steve Ward, Sports & Leisure Manager.

They outlined the proposed development of the park, subject to Heritage Lottery funding and the plan for an all weather junior football pitch funded jointly by the Football Association of Wales and Newport City Council.

This will be located near the refurbished House, beyond the football pitches and near the play area, well away from houses on Beechwood, Christchurch and Clevedon Roads. The enclosed “Scansis” pitch will be similar to the one in Tredegar Park.

It will be available for informal and organized club use and Youth Development and Sports Development Officers will be involved. Residents were supportive of the plans but raised questions about security, parking and gangs of youths drinking in the park shelter. The Council were tackling that particular problem in co-operation with the Police and Community Wardens.

Park CCTV would be linked to the Council Control Centre and a Parks Development Officer would be based at Beechwood House.