AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled to bring Wellington Cricket Club’s practice nets into the 21st Century at a cost of up to £77,000.

The club is to demolish its existing two-lane outdoor nets in the town’s Playing Field and build a new and larger facility using the same science and technology as applied at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the historic home of English cricket.

Club committee member Connor Wickenden said: “The existing practice nets have never been built for purpose and as such have been the subject of constant running repairs over the years. However, they are now at such a position whereby in their current state they are no longer fit for purpose.”

Mr Wickenden said the club, founded in its present form in 1946 but originating more than 170 years ago, was ambitious and had a strong focus on the development of youth cricket. He said: “Our practice nets as they stand represent a safety issue, as well as a facility which is not conducive to learning and developing the game of cricket for a young and aspiring cricketer.”

Mr Wickenden said the nets had been made from concrete pads overlaid with carpet and with scaffolding poles used to hang netting which was open at the bowling end. “This presents a less than ideal environment for a young cricketer to learn their craft,” he said. “Bounce is not consistent or true and at times unsafe as extra bounce is generated by the concrete pads, which in no way reflects the conditions of a cricket wicket, even at amateur level.”

Mr Wickenden said the nets were also a safety issue for the public as batsmen could hit balls out the open end and into the playing field, while balls which were missed could also pass through the deteriorating netting and onto a footpath used by walkers. The club plans to move the nets away from the footpath and closer to the playing field cricket pavilion and fully surround them with a security fence, correct netting with backstops, and enclose the lanes to prevent ball escape of any kind.

Somerset West and Taunton Council approved a planning application for the development last week.

For the full story see this week’sWellington Weekly News.