WTCHC MEMBERSHIP UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2023
Dear WTCHC Members,
A significant amount of time has passed since the WTCHC membership have been updated of the status of the two projects that the club needs to undertake – the new Pavilion build and the Astro Turf Refurbishment.
We write to you today, with a significant and exciting update and one that marks a major milestone in the club’s future. We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have now agreed terms for the commencement of the Astro Turf Refurbishment Project with our principal contractor, Adsum PM to start work on the project in Spring 2023, ensuring the new Pitch will be in place in time for the start of the 2023-2024 Hockey Season.
The work will include the laying of a new Shock Pad, a new Sand Dressed playing surface, LED floodlights, a new spectator area and a new perimeter fence, providing the club with what it needs to ensure it is able to provide first class hockey facilities.
Significant price rises, caused by global factors, and following a full and thorough review of the club’s requirements, the decision to go for the preferred, Sand Dressed surface, mean that additional funds are required to complete the project. These must be raised, prior to completion of the work in Summer 2023. The decision has been taken to proceed, now, before the final funds are in place due to an expected price rise should we delay further.
As communicated to the membership previously, to this point, the club has been very fortunate to have benefited from significant sums of money, donated by individual donors and now is the time for the membership to play its part.
On the 25th February at their first ever ‘Club Day’ event, the Hockey section will kick off a significant fund raising campaign, to be led by Joey Gomm, WTHC Vice-Chair. Having benefited from a recent, £25,000 donation towards the Pitch, the fundraising target will be set at £50,000, to complete the required works for the Pitch Refurbishment. We are confident, given that this will be the first time that we have attempted to raise funds, safe in the knowledge that a project is definitely taking place that the funds will be raised, but it will require significant effort and every single member to play their part. Further information regarding the Pitch fundraising campaign will follow imminently, but anyone with any immediate ideas should contact Joey.
We know that members will also be very keen to hear of the status of the club’s other project, the Pavilion Build. Work is continuing behind the scenes on this project and today’s announcement, as the Astro Turf moves into its delivery phase means that the WTCHC Project Working Groups focus can fully shift towards the delivery of the Pavilion. The Pavilion project is also not immune to rising costs and it is anticipated that additional fund raising will be be required for this project to be completed. All funds, however, currently ring fenced for the Pavilion build, will not be used for the Astro Turf Project under any circumstances. A detailed Pavilion update will follow in the coming weeks.
We are truly delighted to be able to make this announcement today and look forward to working with you to raise the additional required funds.
Should you have any questions or queries regarding the Astro Turf please contact Matt on 07590328641 or for any Pavilion queries contact Chris on 07715 976316.
Yours Faithfully,
Matt Esser – WTHC Chairman
Chris Clark – WTCC Chairman