New car boot sale could begin on Belton playing field

Belton with Browston Parish Council is hoping to make money by holding midweek flea markets on New Road playing field, off New Road in Belton.

The events would take place from 10am to 2pm on 14 Wednesdays throughout the year.

According to the minutes of last month's parish council meeting, they would run from May 31 to August 30.

A statement supporting the application, written by parish council clerk Kate Palmer, says the cost of running the playing field currently exceeds the income.

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Belton with Browston Parish Council is hoping to make money by running car boot sales on the playing field. (Image: Google Maps)

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The loss has been exacerbated over the last 18 months by inflation and increases in the cost of living, specifically energy prices.

The parish council is therefore looking at new revenue streams to make the site self-financing.

"The current burden is being met via the precept and this is unfair on parishioners who receive no benefit from the site," Ms Palmer said.

"This asset, the field, is not used during the week. We would therefore like to utilise this asset to generate income and offset the losses we continue to incur."

The New Road Field has access off New Road Belton and parking for 160 vehicles on the designated car park for attendees of the car boot sale.

The main field is ten acres and the parish council expects less than a quarter to be used by car boot sellers.

The site has up to eight youth football teams attending each Saturday and Sunday who mostly arrive by parents’ cars equating to 160 vehicles.

This shows the field has the capacity to accommodate the number of vehicles, the parish council said.

A decision on the bid, currently in the hands of planners at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, is expected by July 12.