All Weather Pitch Refurbishment Nears Completion
Date Added: 22/09/2021
Sandy’s sports provision will have a great boost this Autumn as major refurbishment works on the All Weather Pitch at Sunderland Road Recreation Ground come to completion.
The All Weather Pitch, which first opened in 1995, is the home ground of Sandy & Shefford Hockey Club and is used regularly by local football clubs, community organisations and pupils of Sandy Secondary School.
The facility is owned by Sandy Sports & Leisure Association (SSLA), a registered charity, with Sandy Town Council as it's sole trustee. It is managed by Stevenage Leisure Ltd.
This project, costing around £200,000.00 has been financed by SSLA from accumulated funds, supported by grants gratefully received from Sport England and Central Bedfordshire Council's Community Asset Fund.
The works had been planned for 2020 but were delayed by the pandemic and so began in late July. The project includes:
• replacing the existing carpet and shock pad
• creating an enclosed spectator area with a dedicated gate, protective rail and fencing
• creating a recess to accommodate new shelters for players, trainers, and officials
• extensive fence repairs
• repairs to existing hockey and football goals
• installing a new pitch division net, cable and ancillary equipment
The newly laid pitch will receive Certification to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) National Standard, having met or exceeded all requirements during testing this week.
Sandy & Shefford Hockey Club will begin to use the new pitch shortly for testing purposes, followed by other sports clubs and the Secondary School from early October. SSLA looks forward to holding a formal reopening for the facility before the end of October.