Work starts on artificial pitch at Mudford Rec

CONTROVERSIAL work on installing a new £817,000 artificial grass pitch at Yeovil Recreation Centre has started.

The pitch, which will be located at the bottom end of Yeovil Recreation Centre, will provide the community with a full size multi-use pitch, complete with floodlights, suitable for hockey, recreational football, tennis and netball.

South Somerset District Council has led the £817,000 project which has been made possible following a successful funding application to England Hockey Board and developer funding from Barratt Homes and its own capital funding.

PHOTO: Cllr Sylvia Seal and Keith Walters (centre) joined by Barbara Reynolds of England Hockey Board, Steve Joel, Assistant Director Community Health & Well-Being SSDC, and Jake Hannis, Senior Sport & Healthy Lifestyles Officer SSDC, alongside members of Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club.

The news will come as a bitter blow to campaigners who have been trying to protect the Yeovil Recreation Centre - more commonly known as Mudford Rec - from development.

The construction of the pitch will continue through the Spring with completion and opening of the new facility anticipated to be at the beginning of June.

The council's assistant director for health and well-being, Steve Joel, said: "This exciting project is now coming to fruition, further enhancing the range of sporting and leisure facilities available for community sport across South Somerset.

"A great deal of work has gone on behind the scenes for many months and we are absolutely delighted to announce that work has started. Yeovil is set to have one of the finest artificial grass pitches in Somerset.”

The district council has been working closely with Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club, which would base itself at the new pitch.

Club chairman Keith Walters said: “This exciting facility will provide an ideal platform for Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club to develop grass roots hockey in the community. It will also support their senior sides to achieve even greater success in the future."

National manager for clubs and facilities at the England Hockey Board, Alex Teasdale, added: "We are delighted that work has now started on this new facility and we look forward to seeing Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club return to Yeovil, and the pitch being fully utilised for grassroots hockey development.

"With the increased interest in hockey as a result of London 2012, we hope to see many newcomers join in at the new facility.”

The council's leisure and culture spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, added: "This really does promise to be a true community facility. During the daytime the pitch will be available for use by local schools and Yeovil College, whilst also being available for a range of other sports.

"Enhancing facility provision with facilities such as this can only help to drive up participation and performance levels in community sport.”

The pitch is expected to be open and available for hire from the beginning of June. To discuss booking options, availability and make your booking, contact the Facilities Management Officer on 01935-462617.

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