Club Development - Pitch Improvements
Some of you may be aware that we were unsuccessful in our application to BIFFA for a £38.5k grant from their landfill tax fund for the drainage of the whole grounds. This was to have been matched with a comparable grant from the RFU. The total costs of the works would have been £95k including VAT. The balance being met by £5.5k from the Club together with an interest free loan from the RFU.
This was a major blow and a couple of delays in the BIFFA grants committee pushed by the timing for the project, which should have begun at the end of April 2010.
The RFU, mindful of their commitment to pitch improvements, agreed to a revised drainage scheme for the two back pitches, which have been unplayable during wet periods of the year. A comprehensive plan has been agreed that includes mole drainage and a process called sand slitting all of which will enhance the rear pitches immeasurably.
The costs for this amount to £54,000 (including VAT). The RFU is providing £39,000 through grant aid whilst the Club's contribution is £5,500 from its resources together with a £9,500 interest free loan (repayable over 15 years) from the Rugby Football Federation (RFF).
The work is scheduled to begin in week commencing Monday 5 July and should take around four weeks. The contractor is Sports Drainage, who is known to the club.
Short Term Issues
It is likely that the pitches will be out of action for at least six months and will be fenced off to prevent damage by rabbits. This will have an impact on games played at the club- especially the Mini and Junior Section and to a lesser extent some senior home matches. The relocation of any affected games is being considered by both the Senior and Junior Sections. Had BIFFA been more prompt with their decision - which came at the end of May rather than mid April the programme would have been completed 6-8 weeks ago.
Whilst it is recognised that this is a problem the long term benefits will be immense. We must thank the RFU and Ross Baxter, their Midlands Development Manager, for their prompt intervention.
This was a major blow and a couple of delays in the BIFFA grants committee pushed by the timing for the project, which should have begun at the end of April 2010.
The RFU, mindful of their commitment to pitch improvements, agreed to a revised drainage scheme for the two back pitches, which have been unplayable during wet periods of the year. A comprehensive plan has been agreed that includes mole drainage and a process called sand slitting all of which will enhance the rear pitches immeasurably.
The costs for this amount to £54,000 (including VAT). The RFU is providing £39,000 through grant aid whilst the Club's contribution is £5,500 from its resources together with a £9,500 interest free loan (repayable over 15 years) from the Rugby Football Federation (RFF).
The work is scheduled to begin in week commencing Monday 5 July and should take around four weeks. The contractor is Sports Drainage, who is known to the club.
Short Term Issues
It is likely that the pitches will be out of action for at least six months and will be fenced off to prevent damage by rabbits. This will have an impact on games played at the club- especially the Mini and Junior Section and to a lesser extent some senior home matches. The relocation of any affected games is being considered by both the Senior and Junior Sections. Had BIFFA been more prompt with their decision - which came at the end of May rather than mid April the programme would have been completed 6-8 weeks ago.
Whilst it is recognised that this is a problem the long term benefits will be immense. We must thank the RFU and Ross Baxter, their Midlands Development Manager, for their prompt intervention.
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