“A huge amount of research, volunteer time and effort went into the application, including agronomy reports carried out by Gordon Jaaback”
Removing the turf
Excavating native topsoil
Formation level
Gravel delivery - first of five
the majority of the money committed by the developer was tied up in the pavilion. Consequently, the pitches were constructed to a lower specification than was desired. It also meant there wasn’t enough money to construct the cricket square. So, the cricket club raised the money themselves (£15k) to do this and to realise the dream of playing cricket in their own village!
The developer completed the building of the houses in May 2008 and the pavilion in June 2008. We also managed to squeeze a machinery garage out of him as well! The pitches were constructed in October and November 2008 by a contractor chosen by the developer - now, consequently, at a much lower specification. But, of course, this was now out of the parish council’s hands. The old grassland was sprayed off, turned over and then the topsoil was stripped off and stockpiled. The sub soil was then graded, drainage installed and the topsoil replaced. 100mm drainage pipes were laid at 15 metre centres across the whole field. Drainage was to a perimeter ditch leading down to a pond in the northern corner of the site. The area was then power harrowed, stone buried and levelled before seeding and fertilising took place, and then rolled.
Consolidating gravel
We could only watch in disbelief as this work was carried out during pretty wet conditions so late in the year and, although we tried to get the work put off until the spring, the developer just wanted to get off the site and ploughed ahead with the work regardless. As part of the S106 agreement, he couldn’t sell his last house until the sports ground was completed, so we could see his reasons for wanting to get it done! Although the grass did eventually germinate, only a 40-50% coverage was evident, and a huge amount of stones reappeared on top over the course of the winter. As spring came, the levels became dreadful with wavy ruts, as deep as 150mm in places, all over the site. The parish council were furious and demanded the developer re-do the site as it was clearly not fit for purpose. They, and the contractor he used, did eventually agree to do the whole site again. They even admitted it was a poor job and that, in hindsight, he should have just walked away rather than carry out the job in November - at least he was honest! He said that he did not want his name to be associated with such a bad job.
So, at the developer’s own cost, the whole site was turned over again to 300mm and regraded, power harrowed, stone buried, seeded, fertilised and rolled in May 2009.
Delivery of sand for blinding layer - first of two
The results were a thousand times better as the mixed weather brought rapid germination of the grass seed and a healthy sward within a few weeks. Also, the ground was now level and not rutted! After four initial cuts with outfront rotary mowers, using another contractor, the cricket club acquired a tractor and trailed gang mowers and started their own cutting in August 2009.
The site was finally handed over to the parish council in September 2009, the same week that construction of the square was completed.
It is planned for the football club to start using the facilities in August 2010 and the cricket club in April 2011. Despite the ground not being used at the moment for sports, there have been a couple of fund raising events so far, including a marquee with band and hog roast, and a small arboretum has been planted to encourage walkers to use the site. Further plans include another hog roast, a trim trail, more tree planting and planning permission for three hard tennis courts as part of future developments. The pavilion will also be utilised for events.
So, despite all the ups and downs, it seems that North Curry have finally got their new sports ground, and one that they can certainly be proud of!
... continued over
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