Club Development Plan - Revised edition March 2013

 
INTRODUCTION 

In the last five or so years, management of the Club has been driven by a new determination to secure a more sustainable future and this has been best demonstrated in the very significant investments in the clubhouse and astro pitch. Both are proving to be big successes. However there are many other improvements which we believe are necessary and desirable and to this end we have been putting together a Development Programme which will help guide and prioritise our investments in years to come. 


The Club Development Plan should be viewed not so much as a formal record of our ambitions, but as a record of our achievements too. It is a work in progress, a document which is continually being added to. Suggestions for additional items are always welcome.
 

THE STORY SO FAR 


Having completed the construction of the astro turf pitch and The Cranston in 2009, the club has traded on a healthy basis day to day. Importantly, this enables us to meet our obligations to the Bank and other creditors (the English Cricket Board and Members’ Loans). It also supports the accumulation of sinking fund resources for replacement of the astro carpet at some time in the future and will allow new improvements in conjunction with the Development Fund.


The priorities set out in the Plan reflect a concern to defer any additional borrowing until the first five years of trading is completed and our liabilities to both the ECB and our members are fully discharged.


INTERIM ACTIONS 


A measure of the Club’s improved financial stability was our recent ability to meet the unexpected cost of replacement of the flat roof over the squash court during 2010. The cost of the work - £25,000 – was met from cash flow.


Furthermore thanks to the generosity of one of our club members we have been able to fulfill two major, additional projects: 


1.   To excavate and relay the bases to the existing Car Parking areas, kerb the surrounds, set appropriate levels, construct retaining walls and build a central island which makes car parking vastly more efficient. The new surface is of a clean graded stone which is draining very well and is far less dusty and less dirty than before.  The Main Car Parking lighting has been replaced with a newer far more efficient system which creates far less light pollution.


2.   We have assisted the Tennis Section in replacing their decaying and unsatisfactory lighting to the top courts. This has proven popular with the Tennis players and has again reduced the level of light pollution previously experienced. 


DEVELOPMENT AMBITIONS


The Club’s Development Team, on behalf of Council has looked at the club in the round and asked itself “What do we need to have to provide a more complete facility“, and “Where do we want to be in 10 years time" 

This has helped produce two lists of development ambitions:

1.   A Main List which compromises major capital items. These items are most likely to be funded from capital borrowing or donation.

2.   A Subsidiary List which comprises smaller projects which either compliment existing major projects, or a project which is a pre-cursor to a planned major project. It is expected that these would be planned and financed out of cash flow. Implementing these would show our ability to provide ongoing improvements for everyone to enjoy. It is hoped that a budget of between
£10,000 and £15,000 could be set aside each year to help implement these projects.


  ACHIEVEMENTS
 
1c. Replace the antiquated and in efficient heating system. (The original was installed circa 1971 when the existing clubhouse was re- built. The introduction of 3 No Combi-boilers and better controlled radiators will provide much improved efficiency and performance) 1. Tarmac the main and overflow car parks, with fully marked out car parking bays to maximise parking efficiency. ( To include water retention system, which overcomes the current restrictions imposed upon us by United Utilities. To also potentially include rain water harvesting system this would reduce our rapidly increasing water costs.)


2. Relay the entire driveway, kerb, tarmac and re-mark.  Provide an upgraded external lighting system and improved signage at both the entrance point and along the driveway itself. (The driveway has deteriorated significantly and urgently needs upgrading)


3. Extend the external balcony to rear of building to over look the grass Tennis Courts. (Withdrawn from the original Development Plan because of budget implications, it would enhance the building at the rear and provide added value for spectators for sports being played on the back courts and pitches).
 

4. Landscape the area surrounding the Tennis Pavilion and reassess the area immediately outside of the Sports Entrance. (Provides an outdoor social area during the summer and tidies up the interface between the road way and the rear and sides of the Tennis Pavilion.) 


5. Demolish the existing Cricket changing room on the back field and rebuild with improved facilities to assist Hockey. (The old wooden cricket pavilion is now 50+ years old and has no shower facilities. We need to create facility to deal with increased hockey demand for changing and possibly incorporate viewing area to the astro.) 

6. Assist the Tennis Section with its ambition to improve and extend the number of floodlight courts or, alternatively, address the issue of an indoor facility and or the conversion of all or part of the existing grass courts into an alternative surface. (This needs further assessment, the newly refurbished lights and their use should allow us to establish if further development is justified.) 


7. To re locate the Bowling Green to the far end of the overflow car park. To include small pavilion and seating area to compliment it.(This would allow us to improve the quality of the facility, but would require a new security fence to be installed adjacent to the Wirral Way to protect it and prevent the public using the club grounds as an access route.)