WORK has got under way on the £660,000 project to build a ports pavilion and facilities om The Severals in
Newmarket.
A cricket square has been laid, although it won't be playable until next summer and the building of a new sports pavilion, close to the war memorial garden, officially begins on Monday, June 15, with a turf-cutting ceremony.
The project has been f
unded by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud
Management Company based at Dalham Hall Stud in Duchess Drive and the ruler of Dubai hopes it will encourage a new generation of sports men and women in the run up to the
2012 London Olympics.
The project has the backing of Newmarket Town Council, the Jockey Club and Sport Newmarket and Newmarket town councillors for The Severals ward, Warwick Hirst and Richard
Fletcher, have been overseeing the project with Mildenhall contractor Cocksedge.
"We are delighted it is getting going," said Cllr Hirst.
"It will be another outstanding sports facility for the town.
"Newmarket cricket will be played there, but it will be vailable for all sports as a multi-sports development and is also aimed at younger people, such as the pupils of nearby schools, St Louis and Fairstead House."
Cllr Hirst said that he thought the facility would also complement the town's new swimming pool and leisure centre, which opened earlier this year.
As well as the new building, which will have changing rooms, a social area and a kitchen, pitches will be marked out for football and other sports and a new grass cricket wicket laid to replace the existing concrete one.
A survey by the England and Wales Cricket Board visited the site and agreed it was suitable to host the game after concerns that cricket balls could reach the Bury or Fordham Road.
The facility will also be offered to Newmarket Joggers and Newmarket Cycling and Triathlon Club.
The town council will run the new facilities with one of its staff acting as anevents co-ordinator but The Severals will remain an area for public use with only the new cricket square limited to formal use.
