Dear Members and Friends,
It’s been quite a while since the last update from us on our new nets project, and this is to let you know how we’ve been getting on and the latest target date for the build.
The main story of the last few months has been delays in our planning permission. We’ll soon be entering our 6th month since we submitted our application, and we’ve been through plenty of hoops on the way, from local consultation to heritage to biodiversity to mitigations for Brent Geese, each one running in series rather than in parallel. The good news is that we’re now on the home stretch, with our plans accepted by Hampshire Ecology, and we are just waiting for the Council to run their consultation with Natural England. We’re expecting a response in a couple of weeks.
All this means that we haven’t so far been able to order in the steelwork for the nets, but things are looking really positive for a build early after the start of the outdoor season. We would have preferred them ready for outdoor training, but these nets are for the next 35 years and more, and I hope you don’t mind waiting a couple of months.
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We’d like to say a big thanks to those who have supported the project so far, whether with donations, or with supportive comments on the planning application.
While we’ve been waiting for the council, we’ve also been submitting our plans to local councillors who have put aside £2,000 to support the project through the Council Infrastructure Levy, which is great news; and with the club responding so generously to the Toyota Good For Cricket prize draw, Toyota also donated a signed England 2025 ODI shirt which will be on display in the club soon – well done all! All of the fundraising so far has helped to reduce the club’s outlay on the nets, which sets us up for the future – and if you find yourself in a position to donate to the club, please do get in touch.
Yours in cricket,
Tom Newman
Portsmouth Cricket Club Junior Coordinator