The idea
With 160 junior and 70 senior members now regularly playing at the club, the existing facilities need upgrading. Providing a 2 lane fully enclosed net facility will allow children to train in a safe environment even when matches are being played. In the last five years we have seen the Junior section rise from 35 - 160 players, including our first girls only teams. Our Senior membership has also doubled from two to four teams now playing in the Cherwell league. Our current training facilities cannot be used concurrently with matches so we need urgent improvements to enable all players to have sufficient opportunities. We have also been advised via a ball strike risk assessment that the height of the perimeter fence running alongside the B4022 (Newland) is required to be raised to approximately 8m. The number of cricket balls that are hit over the existing fence has increased and the chances of property/vehicle damage alongside potential pedestrian injury are increasing.
What we'll deliver
- Two lane, fully enclosed cricket net facility
- Perimeter fencing increased to the required height to allow cricket to continue
Why it's a great idea
With 160 junior and 70 senior members now regularly playing at the club, the existing facilities need upgrading. Providing a fully enclosed net facility will allow children to train in a safe environment even when matches are being played. In addition, we have a number of children in the representative Oxfordshire age group squads and these facilities will allow them to practice outside of their regular training sessions. Our 4 senior teams are currently only able to train on one set night due to the junior activity. Fully enclosed nets will allow them to practice on other nights when junior matches are taking place. Finally, the increase to the height of the perimeter fence will allow cricket to continue at the ground (which provides much needed green sporting space in the heart of Witney) more safely. It will significantly reduce the risk of balls being hit into the road/houses and create a safer environment for those travelling past the ground to and from the centre of Witney.
Steps to get it done
- Securing the funding for the perimeter fence
