Floodlights at Southwell approved by local council

Floodlights at Southwell moved a step closer after committee members of Newark and Sherwood District Council voted in favour of the move.

The plan is for the whole 10-furlong circuit and the five-furlong track to be lit up by 54 pylons.

Floodlit racing already takes place at Kempton, Chelmsford, Wolverhampton and Newcastle.

Southwell is owned by Arena Racing Company and the plan is to apply for extra fixtures to begin racing under floodlights by 2019.

Executive director at Southwell Mark Clayton said: "ARC is very pleased planning permission has been granted to construct floodlights at Southwell Racecourse.

"Subject to future fixture allocation, the current intention is for construction to begin in 2018 in time for racing under floodlights to start at Southwell in 2019."

Southwell has staged all-weather racing since 1989 but from a peak of 80 fixtures a year, it is now down to 54 meetings in 2017 due to the addition of new all-weather tracks.