Stowmarket Cricket Club celebrates new nets at Chilton Fields thanks to Mid Suffolk District Council’s sports investment

New cricket nets have been unveiled as part of an investment project to boost a town’s sports and wellbeing facilities.

Members of Stowmarket Cricket Club joined councillors from Mid Suffolk District Council as players put the new practice nets to the test earlier this week.

The nets are part of a wider council-led project to upgrade sports facilities around Stowmarket High School and Chilton Fields with future plans including a new sports pavilion, a 3G football pitch and a range of improved outdoor recreation areas.

Henry Griffiths, chairman of Stowmarket Cricket Club, said: “This is a wonderful new facility and one we as a club are extremely proud of.

“Along with the future plans for redevelopment of the site this signals an exciting new chapter for cricket in Stowmarket.

“We hope this facility will enable the continued development of cricketers in Stowmarket and be part of the wider community of sport in the area.

“We are extremely grateful to Mid Suffolk District Council for its outstanding support and investment in making this dream a reality.

“Our thanks also go the England and Wales Cricket Board for their investment and guidance which has also been invaluable.”

So far, Mid Suffolk District Council has committed £450,000 to the scheme, with additional funding secured from external sources and Section 106 developer contributions.

The initiative has already seen the installation of a trim trail at Chilton Fields last year which has proven popular with residents and fitness groups.

Future developments for the project will include improved football pitches, a multi-use games area (MUGA), an athletics mini-track and active trail, as well as better connectivity and parking facilities.

The plans have been developed in conjunction with key stakeholders including Suffolk County Council, Stowmarket Town Council, local schools, the leisure centre, the NHS, Active Suffolk, local sports clubs, the Football Foundation and Sport England.

Cllr Tim Weller, cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing, said: “I am bowled over by the enthusiasm and team spirit shown here at Stowmarket Cricket Club as well as by other partner organisations working with us to deliver these improvements.

“The scheme has a lot of elements and it will take time to deliver them all, but we now have the cricket nets and new trim trail in place, and people can start to see the project coming together and delivering benefits.”

Anyone interested in joining Stowmarket Cricket Club can contact them by emailing stowmarketc@gmail.com.