Newbury Showground building will be ready this spring

First events scheduled for May

NEWBURY Showground’s new £1m livestock building will be ready for use by May and will provide a revenue stream for the agricultural society throughout the year.

The building is now just weeks away from completion after spending years in the planning stages following objections from nearby landowners and delays over the Section 106 agreement.

Chief executive of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, Daren Bowyer, called it a ‘labour of love’ this week and said that the prime role of new 3,200 sq m building will be to equip the 150-acre showground with high level animal welfare facilities while also improving the viewing experience for the public.

He also said that the society, which owns the showground, plans to let out the building other events such as antique fairs and craft shows.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Mr Bowyer said: “We have long yearned to have a permanent building for the showground.

“This building will enhance the facilities for those that are exhibiting cattle at the show.

“It will provide security for the cattle and also provide quality public access to the livestock during the show, so that will be the main use.

“But of course it gives you the opportunity throughout the rest of the year.

“It will enhance our education programme, providing somewhere to house pupils and visitors when it rains, and it will hopefully produce a new revenue stream.”

The building, which will have capacity to house 400 cattle, has been funded by the society’s own reserves, a bank loan, and also the society’s fundraising, set to be match funded by the Greenham Common Trust.

The planning consent allows the building to be used for leisure purposes on a limited number of days over the year, however Mr Bowyer said he couldn’t foresee the ‘cattle shed’ being used as a venue for wedding receptions or similar events.

Mr Bowyer said: “I don’t think it’s a suitable venue for weddings or things like that, so it will mainly be used for things like antique fairs.

“We already have a vintage tractor show booked and the IACS (International Antiques and Collectors Fairs) have booked it for their antique fair in May, which will be the building’s first event.”