Consultation results show wide-ranging support for Jockey Club ideas for Newmarket’s future

Consultation results show wide-ranging support for Jockey Club ideas for Newmarket’s future

The results of The Jockey Club’s recent consultation “Playing our part in Newmarket’s future” have revealed support from respondents for the concepts which were presented, it is announced today.

The consultation showed ideas for a new cinema in the Subscription Rooms, a country park at Seven Springs, a new all-weather racing and training facility and potential residential development at Pinewood Stud. It was launched with a two-day exhibition in the town’s Memorial Hall on 28th-29th March.

More than 300 people visited across the two days to view a range of ideas put forward by The Jockey Club for the future sustainable development of the town. The project website www.letsplayourpart.co.uk was visited more than 2,500 times during the subsequent online consultation period, which ran until the end of April.

83% of respondents said they would welcome a new cinema in the Subscription Rooms, with 86% supportive of the idea of a country park at Seven Springs. The potential for residential development at Pinewood was supported by 48% of respondents, with a further 28% saying they ‘don’t mind’, whilst the concept of all-weather training and racing facility near the Rowley Mile Racecourse attracted support from 57%, with a further 32% saying they ‘don’t mind’.

Three-quarters of those who participated in the consultation said they were in support of the overall masterplan concept for potential improvements on Racecourse Side comprising the park, racing and training facility and residential development.

Comments raised during the consultation included the prospect of increased traffic, the need to protect the biodiversity of the site at Seven Springs and ensuring the country park is accessible to all. Further feedback on the potential for residential development included the need to ensure any additional amenities are considered and that the accommodation it would provide would be appropriate for Newmarket’s workforce.

Amy Starkey, the Managing Director for the Jockey Club’s East Region, said: “We would like to thank everyone who participated and contributed ideas to the consultation and we have been working hard since the end of April to collate and analyse the feedback, as well as following up any new ideas or concerns raised individually.

“The concepts presented are still available to view online and we are still keen to hear any questions or concerns, as keeping the lines of communication that have been created open is our priority going forward, even if the concepts do not end up progressing.

“We are currently considering our next steps and we will provide further updates as soon as we are able to.”

Newmarket residents who wish to be updated on The Jockey Club’s Playing our part in Newmarket’s future can sign-up to the project newsletter via the website www.letsplayourpart.co.uk/feedback.