Progress on the new ground

Ground contractors Speedcut from Oxford have been on the Blackwater Road site for the past six weeks. “Despite the wet weather and sudden underfoot conditions, they’re making excellent progress,” beamed John Hilsum, chairman of the IWCB Operations Management Group, which is overseeing the Newclose project.. “In the short time they’ve been on site, the ground has been levelled and substantial earthworks undertaken to create a grass boom around the perimeter of the playing area. “Some of the drainage installation has been done, but there’s obviously a tremendous amount of heavy plant work to be undertaken.” The other major construction positive is that the Cowes firm Crown Park, who have been awarded the separate contract for the clubhouse and pavilion, this week began piling work for the foundations to the building, which is begin built at the northern end of the ground. “It’s amazing how quickly it is beginning to look like a cricket ground. With any luck, we’ll be able to get the initial grass seeding down very soon,” Hilsum smiled. “The backdrop to the ground, which is over-looked by St George’s Down, will be magnificent. “You’ve got rolling fields on one side and a countless oak trees all along the other – it will be stunning.” The new ‘county ground’ cricket complex at Newclose will have a substantial pavilion and clubhouse, practice nets, sightscreens, and electronic scoreboard. The IW cricket board envisages it being used only for cricket, around 48 matches a season. They are hoping to get willow on leather there as early as next summer, but certainly 2009. “The Isle of Wight was confirmed the 39th county by the ECB earlier this summer and, when Newclose opens for play, we’ll be the only Minor County to actually have its own ground.“All the others throughout the country play on club grounds,” Hilsum beamed.