Cricket Pavilion To Be Redeveloped And New Fencing With CCTV Along Alleyway

Published on: 7 Jun, 2016
Updated on: 7 Jun, 2016

The cricket pavilion at the sports ground in Woodbridge Road, Guildford is set for a revamp costing £200,000; and fencing along the footpath beside the ground and adjacent to the railway line will be replaced and CCTV installed.

The cricket pavilion at the sports ground in Woodbridge Road, Guildford.

Guildford Borough Council, which looks after the sports ground and pavilion, has pledged the funding. And it has been liaising with both Surrey County and Guildford Cricket Clubs over the plans.

Planning consent for the pavilion’s redevelopment was obtained in 2015 and since then further detailed design work has progressed. The scheme will attract external funding from both cricket clubs.

Improvements to the footpath by way of new fencing and CCTV cameras comes after the most recent incident there, when, during the early hours of January 30, a woman was sexually assaulted in the alleyway that links Woodbridge Road and Walnut Tree Close.

The move comes after discussions by the council with the police, Network Rail and other community safety partners.

The ball-proof fencing along Woodbridge Road will also be replaced later this year.

The alleyway between Woodbridge Road and Walnut Tree Close. New fencing will be installed and CCTV cameras.

Cllr Caroline Reeves (Friary & St Nicolas, and leader of the Lib Dem group on the council) has said how pleased she is that this work is being undertaken.

She said: “The pavilion is in need of an update, it isn’t suitable for anyone needing disabled access and the site has the potential to be an excellent venue at this lovely town centre spot.

“The improvements to the footpath along the side of the cricket ground are very welcome after some very disturbing attacks along this popular, well used footpath.

“It’s good to see the borough council working with both cricket clubs, the police and Network Rail to allay the concerns of residents.”

Responses to Cricket Pavilion To Be Redeveloped And New Fencing With CCTV Along Alleyway

Sue Warner Reply

June 8, 2016 at 10:31 am

It is indeed good news.

I have been put off using the alleyway because of the attacks, one at 5pm in the afternoon which is the time I would use it.

Once the work is completed I will be more confident in using it again.
Les Knight Reply

June 10, 2016 at 1:36 pm

Maybe the council will consider a football ground for Guildford.
Brian Holt Reply

June 10, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Why is the Woodbridge Road sports ground hardly used these days?

From the end of the cricket season until the following season no one uses this ground, what a waste of money.

That is eight months without anyone using the ground.

There used to be amateur football when Guildford Pinks played there, hockey, tennis down the railway end.

Why is nothing being done to increase revenue by all-year use?

Now £200,000 being spent on the pavilion which has so little use in a year.
Andrew Backhurst Reply

June 11, 2016 at 10:51 am

Although a great setting for a sports ground in the town, the Woodbridge Road site is not suitable for first class cricket as it’s rectangular shape makes for short boundaries on the wicket ends.

Surely a better site for cricket would be the Recreation Road cricket ground, as the site is far bigger and as Brian Holt points out, most of the year the game is not played so it would have little impact on the neighbourhood.

This would allow for the Woodbridge Road ground to be used as a home for Guildford City FC, as football grounds are much smaller and would fit easily on the site with much of the land to spare.
Mary Redgwell Reply

June 11, 2016 at 5:08 pm

I remember taking the children to play tennis there in the 1970s.