This was a project to significantly improve the existing outdoor sports facilities at Everyone Active Leisure Centre at Ashdown.

The facilities are situated in Canford Heath on a site well used by both Ashdown Technology College and the community. 

Improvements were necessary to replace worn out surfaces and bring facilities up to current standards to enhance an individual or team's ability to train.  Work started early May 2011 and was completed by the end of June.

Synthetic Turf Pitch (STP)

Originally built in 1988 and officially opened in 1989.  Soon after the original opening the surface had to be re-laid due to a collapsed drain.  The carpet, tarmac base and drains were replaced in 1993.  The current carpet is 17 years old and seven years past its expected life span (due to technological advances properly maintained STPs today have an expected life span of 20 years). 

The STP is the only publicly accessible full-size hockey / football pitch in the Borough.  It has floodlights but these fall short of current England Hockey requirements.

• Improvements included replacement of the shockpad layer, pitch 'carpet' and surrounding fencing

Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)

The MUGA incorporates four tennis courts (or 3 netball courts) with a floodlit concrete surface.  It has been very well used over the 25 years since it was built, but has received little investment and has never been resurfaced.  It is hoped the enhanced MUGA will encourage increased community use.

• Improvements included a new macadam surface (with the opportunity to use the area for basketball, tennis, netball and 5-a-side football), and new fencing which incorporates basketball hoops.

Athletics Track

A six-lane floodlit athletics track laid in 2000 with auxiliary throwing and jumping facilities. The track is heavily used by three local clubs along with the College.  It is the only athletics track in the Borough and one of only two in the conurbation.

• The track was washed, the top red texture replaced and white lines repainted. 

• A new pole vault bed has been installed.

Project details:

• Budget: £347,000

• Funding:  Prudential borrowing £217,000; Planning Obligations (Major Built Facilities fund) £81,000; England Hockey Grant (conditional on upgrading floodlights) £49,000

• Contractor: Charles Lawrence Surfaces Ltd

• Lead Officer Gemma Wilton  .  01202 261333  .  Email Gemma

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