Work to improve the cricket pitch at Farnborough Recreation Ground, in partnership with Locksbottom Cricket Club, including funding and support from Sport England is nearing completion.
The circa £74k improvement work, in time for the forthcoming cricketing season, included reconstruction of the cricket square which had come to the end of its life and re-grading of the outfield which was becoming increasingly more uneven, posing health and safety concerns. Establishment and maintenance work will continue over the coming months as the new season approaches.
Councillor William Huntington-Thresher Executive Councillor for Environment and Community Services said “Our parks and open spaces are valued by so many and this is yet another successful example of how by working together we have been able to make improvements to facilities. We are hopeful that cricket will relatively soon be played again at Farnborough Recreation Ground and I would like to thank Locksbottom Cricket Club for bringing this project forwards and for the support from Sport England. It wouldn’t be cricket if I didn’t offer Locksbottom Cricket Club a successful cricketing year in the season ahead.”
Locksbottom Cricket Club was formed in 1947 and currently has 60-80 members who use the on-site cricket square, outfield, training nets and pavilion. The improvement work was specifically programmed to avoid disruption to the cricket playing season and also allow time for the grass to establish, with work commencing in Autumn 2020. Renovating the outfield will allow it to be used for 'soft' ball games and mini tournaments for younger junior players plus also support the England Cricket Boards women’s soft ball programme, as well as supporting the club’s other teams and programmes.
David Killpack, Honorary Treasurer for Locksbottom Cricket Club said “The club is grateful to park users for their understanding and patience for any disruption caused during the works. The quality of outcome has been excellent and we ask park users to consider their use of the pitch carefully to avoid any chance of damage, such as the use of football boots or golf clubs. Locksbottom Cricket Club has been bold and brave in the approach to improving the facilities available to the community. We have full faith that the pitch reconstruction, alongside the recent practice net installation and pavilion improvements, will be of benefit for many generations to come. A huge thank you must go to all involved in getting such a substantial project completed in trying times. The council, idverde, Bourne Sport and TGMS have been exemplary in the way the project has been handled.”
A Sport England grant of £36,058, combined with £36,270 from Locksbottom Cricket Club and £1,600 of funding from the council allowed the pitch improvement work to go ahead, with the specialist work being undertaken by Bourne Sport Limited in conjunction with TGMS sports surface consultants and managed by idverde, the council’s greenspace management contractor.
ENDS
About Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active - like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.
Further information about Locksbottom Cricket Club can be found at https://locksbottom.play-cricket.com/
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Executive, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk