A net result for new sports facilities in Stowmarket

Members of Stowmarket Cricket Club joined councillors from Mid Suffolk District Council this week to celebrate their new cricket nets – part of the council’s investment in a range of improved sport and wellbeing facilities for the town.

Tim Weller, from Mid Suffolk District Council, joined cricket club chairman Harry Griffiths, to watch club members to try out the new nets, which they hope will help the club and encourage more people to get active.

It is part of a wider project spearheaded by Mid Suffolk District Council for improved sport and wellbeing facilities on land surrounding Stowmarket High School and Chilton Fields, following extensive engagement with partner organisations and sports clubs.

Councillor Weller, the cabinet member for Environment, Culture and Wellbeing, said: “I am bowled over by the enthusiasm and team spirit shown here at Stowmarket Cricket Club as well as by other partner organisations working with us to deliver these improvements.

“The scheme has a lot of elements and it will take time to deliver them all, but we now have the cricket nets and new trim trail in place, and people can start to see the project coming together and delivering benefits.”

Henry Griffiths, the chairman of Stowmarket Cricket Club added: “This is a wonderful new facility and one we as a club are extremely proud of.

“Along with the future plans for redevelopment of the site this signals an exciting new chapter for cricket in Stowmarket.

“We hope this facility will enable the continued development of cricketers in Stowmarket and be part of the wider community of sport in the area.

“We are extremely grateful to Mid Suffolk District Council for its outstanding support and investment in making this dream a reality.

“Our thanks also go the England & Wales Cricket Board for their investment and guidance which has also been invaluable.”

This latest development for the project, which is split into multiple phases includes plans to create a new shared sports pavilion and a 3G football pitch as well as works to enhance existing, and deliver new, outdoor recreational facilities.

The project was brought about to address a number of health inequalities in Stowmarket and wider district and in particular, the Chilton Ward, which often compares poorly against the local area and nationally.

The council has already agreed to put £450,000 towards the scheme, with the remaining funding identified from a range of external sources alongside Section 106 contributions.

The new trim-trail was installed at Chilton Fields last year and has already proved popular with local residents and fitness groups making use of the new facilities.

Future work includes improvements to the pitches at Chilton Fields and school site, multi-use games area (MUGA), athletics mini-track and active track.

There will also be improved connectivity routes with some car parking improvements, with plans developed in conjunction with a number of stakeholders including Suffolk County Council, Stowmarket Town Council, local schools, the leisure centre, the NHS, Active Suffolk, local sports clubs, the Football Foundation and Sport England.

Anyone interested in joining Stowmarket Cricket Club can contact them by emailing: stowmarketc@gmail.com