Day 20 - Initial work complete!

The two photographs show the people from Fosse Contracts applying the finishing touches to the courts and about to replace the fencing from where the heavy vehicles accessed the courts. Temporary lines have been applied to the courts which means that they are available for social play (once the nets have been set up!). The committee need to consider whether the lines are good enough for match play.

The next stage is for the floodlights to be erected in January and then the courts to be painted and then permanent lines marked out when the days are drier and warmer in the spring.

Day 18 - Final surface

Work continues on the top surface layer and should be complete by the end of this week or at the beginning of next week. Temporary lines will then be painted for the winter period. Work will commence on installation of the pylons and floodlights early
in the new year.

Day 15 First top surface laid

Work has continued all week on the tarmac surface. It is estimated that well over 200 tons of tarmac will have been laid. The first top layer strip has been added in the Court 3 area and it is anticipated that the remaining work on the top surface will be completed next week.

Here are some pictures of the work in progress

Day 12 - Laying the tarmac

Here are a couple of photographs of the start of laying the coarse lower tarmac, which is delivered in 20 ton lots (2 loads will be spread today) at high temperatures. The job will take 2-3 days to complete. A decision will then be made whether to lay the finer top layer which has to be laid at a temperature of 170deg C and this depends upon the weather to ensure that it lays correctly.

Day 10 - Preparing for the tarmac

As more men & vehicles can be seen working on the courts, the new outer edging strips have been laid down and the foundations for the floodlight pylons. The courts will be brought up to the new level of the top of the edging strips. It is expected that the tarmac will be laid on Tuesday 13th November

Day 7 - Preparation for the heavy work

These two pictures show the preparation for the heavy machinery that will be used to lay firstly the bitument layer and then the tarmac.

The track is laid upon a sheeting that will allow the surface to breathe underneath, but will protect the cricket outfield as much as possible

Day 5 - Laying the Ducting

As you will see from the pictures, the next job is to channel the courts to insert the ducting that will carry the power to the floodlights that will be in the centre of the courts.

The ducting is plastic pipework, that can be seen in the last picture as it emerges on the cricket pitch side of the courts