Wednesday 02 October 2019
This week sees the completion of a 19 week long project at Footes Lane which has brought about changes that will benefit a number of community user groups with the privilege of hosting the Island Games 2021 just around the corner.
Discussions within our project team began back in February of 2016 but the Track Refurbishment project at Footes Lane has been ongoing since Monday 22nd April 2019, with physical works beginning on site on Monday 20th May 2019. The works are part of a programme that has taken considerable time and effort from the entire project team to deliver to this point.
The project team were pleased to see the Track Refurbishment project delivered on time. Despite a number of challenging conditions, the contractor has been working 12 hour shifts to ensure the facility will be handed back to the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture (CfESC) this week ahead of two high profile sports fixtures this coming weekend. With regards to cost, discussions with the contractor are yet to be concluded in relation to the final account, but it is currently expected that the project will be delivered within budget.
Guernsey Rugby Club play their second home game on Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm, after playing their first home game on the first XI's second pitch last month. Guernsey FC are also in action in their first home game of the season which is played on Sunday against VCD Athletic who are kicking off at the earlier time of 12 noon.
The project to extend the track to eight lanes for the full 400 metres was complimented by a number of other improvements to the current facilities. These included:
- A full replacement and extension of the old 'porous' track surface with a non-porous 'sandwich' type surface - a step which will improve performance and help future maintenance requirements.
- Relocating the current steeplechase jump to the inside of the track.
- Relining of the newly laid surface with markings for the required competition and desired practice events for Athletics.
- Relocating the metal pedestrian barriers and pavement around the outside of the track and installing a retaining wall along the 200 metre bend.
- Replacing the old hammer discus throwing cage with a world leading Thor competition cage; the old cage has been relocated for use as a training facility.
- Installation of a competition shot put circle in front of the stand.
- Improvements to the services and drainage provisions to and from the infield grass pitch.
- Installation of an artificial grass margin alongside the edges of the infield.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said;
"We have been very impressed by the work ethic of Agripower, and their sub-contractors they have worked alongside to deliver this project on time. We were pleased to see the appointment of many local sub-contractors and suppliers in the refurbishment works and I was personally pleased to see the environment considered as the project progressed. This included the 110 tonnes of existing track surface being removed and transported to the UK for recycling rather than it going to landfill".
The CfESC remained aware of the importance of completing the refurbishment works on time so as to not further disrupt the league fixtures of Guernsey Football Club and Guernsey Rugby. Both clubs have worked closely with CfESC to accommodate the delivery of this project within their programmes, liaising with league organisers to ensure minimal disruption to their first league games at the beginning of their 2019/2010 seasons. The Committee is pleased that both clubs will be returning to Footes Lane this weekend and wish them both well for the season ahead. The CfESC hope that those who haven't yet witnessed the distinctive new colour of the finished surface will be impressed when they next visit the facility.
This marks the end of phase one of the project. Phase two of the project will encompass additional work scheduled to take place in 2020. This phase of work will look at maintenance and improvements to the Garenne Stand, including works to the roof; the installation of an accessible viewing platform within the main stand; and a complete refurbishment to the main toilet block on level one to improve accessibility options for supporters visiting the facility.
