'We've become a forgotten community' - why these villagers think more needs to be done for Selston

The angry residents believe the village of 12,500 folk is in danger of becoming a forgotten community as millions of pounds of investment floods into more populated parts of the district.

And the disgruntled locals say Selston is now in danger of being left behind if the quality and quantity of facilities is not enhanced.

“There is a serious lack of pitch facilities within the area,” said Jane Allcock, who is treasurer at Selston Football Club.

“A lot of what we have got is grass, so obviously it is weather dependent. The last few years we have had lots of rain and soggy pitches where we can’t get games on. It then means that our senior and junior teams are missing out on getting out there and playing.

“It is so important for kids to be playing. It is a huge thing and we are supporting a lot of families and players who are playing as part of our community.”

In 2021, Ashfield District Council secured £62.6 million from the Towns Fund for regeneration projects in Kirkby and Sutton.

This funding will support 16 key projects across both towns and focus on business, education, health and wellbeing, the visitor economy and creating a greener Ashfield.

One local resident, who preferred not be named, said not enough of that lucrative cashpot was being directed at Selston.

‘We’ve noticed there’s not really a lot for children,” she said. “In terms of money, we just seem to be forgotten.

“There needs to be more for children, more than anything, in terms of activities and clubs, to give them things to do during the holidays. We need leisure facilities.”

Another disgruntled local also believed Selston was slipping under the radar.

“We get left behind as a community in terms of funding, not just in regards to our roads but our parks as well,” she said.

“We are just not thought about as much because it's not as populated as other areas.”

David Martin, chairman of Selston Parish Council, felt having to travel to access facilities was just part of life for those living in rural communities.

“The stuff that Ashfield District Council has done is because they were given Towns Fund money and Selston is not a town, so it misses out,” he said.

“When you look at it on balance it does look very biased, but there’s nothing to stop us driving to Kirkby and Sutton to use the facilities, that’s the ethos behind it.

“I have lived here since 2003 and my kids learned to swim at Hucknall, so it has always been that way. If you live here you have got to be prepared to travel, it is just one of the things about living in Selston.

“There’s only 12,500 people living in Selston, but there’s much more in Kirkby and Sutton, so I can understand why the money is spent there.

“The biggest problem we have got is the Two Counties Trust Policy not to allow Selston to play on the school fields, which came in as a result of COVID. Ever since then the football club has been struggling to find pitches to play on.

“The parish council has provided as many pitches as they can, but it is a hard thing to solve.”

Coun Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning at Ashfield District Council, said recent funding boosts for Hucknall and Kirkby were out of their hands and the council were doing what they could for Selston.

"We understand how residents in Selston might be feeling seeing the recent funding announcements for Hucknall and Kirkby, however it is worth remembering that these places were chosen by central government due to many factors, such as deprivation levels,” he said. “In the past we have used such funding for many projects (e.g. the new Planetarium at Sherwood Observatory) which were designed to benefit a much broader geography than purely the town they are based in.

"Whilst we haven't received any government funding specifically for Selston and the other villages, we are investing £1million into sports facilities at Selston High School which will provide public access to top of the range sports halls and courts. We have also secured funding from the Football Foundation to refurbish the existing pitches at Selston into a PlayZone - mini pitches for multi-sport uses, which again will be available for residents and clubs to use on weeknights and weekends.

"In Jacksdale we are spending £125,000 to support the Parish Council with upgrading the ageing skatepark to ensure young people, and anyone who enjoys skating, roller blading or scootering, have a place to use, practise and socialise that is fit for purpose.

"The Council will continue to look for funding sources to improve access to high quality sports and leisure provision across the District, including Selston and the villages."

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