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Professional Sportsturf Design (NW) Ltd |
Over the years PSD has successfully brought
to completion over 30 major stadium pitches, 50 new golf courses or course
extensions and 15 sports complexes. Below are some examples of recent
project work. For further details please complete the contact
form or call 01772 884450.
Oldham Athletic AFC
Like many league football grounds, the pitch Boundary Park has gone through
a number of reincarnations. Back in the '80s the pitch was one of a number
to be converted to a synthetic surface. Unfortunately, the performance
of those early pitches was not to the desired standard with high rebound
bounce and little roll resistance. The pitch was turned back into a natural
surface in the early '90s and went through a number of traumas leading
to the decision to rebuild in May/June 2001.
The works were specified and supervised by PSD (John Hacker and Gary Owen) with Mallinsons of Ormskirk acting as Contractor. The specification included for a complete new pitch including drains, gravel carpet, Rootzone and Desso Grassmaster. The Grassmaster was included as it was intended that Rugby League would also be played at the ground.
Works were completed by the start of June with the pitch being seeded on the 9th June 2001. The first match was played on the 11th August 2001. Performance since August has been excellent with the pitch still retaining a good grass cover and a stable surface.
Preston Sports Arena
The Preston Sports Arena project was a joint venture between The University
of Central Lancashire and Preston Borough Council with financial support
from The Lottery / Sport England. The site provides facilities for a wide
range of sports including Athletics, Football, Rugby, Hockey, Tennis,
Cricket. It includes two full size synthetic pitches, a number of 5 and
7 a-side synthetic pitches, synthetic tennis courts, a porous polymeric
running track, a cricket square and nine natural turf pitches including
one Desso Grassmaster pitch and one fibesand pitch. In addition, the site
required a number of hard facilities including buildings, roads and car
parks.
While the site had been designated for use as a sports complex for some years it was not until 1997 that planning was fine-tuned. The works were begun in autumn1998 with the main contractors being Ballast Wiltshire plc. Tim Jackson of Faulks, Perry, Cully and Rech undertook the overall design and supervision of the soft landscape while the sportsturf aspects of the site were designed and supervised by John Hacker and Bill Gillespie of PSD. The sportsturf sub-contractor for the natural playing surfaces was John Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd while Heydour Contract Services Ltd installed the synthetic surfaces.
The site was composed in the main of heavy clay soil and clay subsoil. The construction schedule was seriously affected by the wet weather throughout the period of construction. Despite this the infrastructure and levels were completed in the main by the end of 1999 with final slitting and topdressing operations undertaken during spring and summer 2000. Some play took place on the Desso in the Autumn of 1999 but play began in ernest in July 2000 (Desso) and autumn 2000 (rest of pitches).
Silverdale Golf Course, Course
Extension
An additional six holes were laid out and built at Silverdale to complete
the 18 holes. Silverdale was built in 1906 but remained a 9-hole course
until 1990 when an additional 3 holes were added. The course is in an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty being on a limestone outcrop that is
part of Arnside Knott. This limited the extent of the works to the construction
of greens and tees. Each green and tee was positioned to take account
of the existing contours and make the course fit into the landscape as
much as possible. Roger Jones undertook the 6-hole layout and the works
were specified and supervised by John Hacker PSD. John Mallinson (Ormskirk)
Ltd won the contract to complete the works.
Work was started in February 2001 having been delayed
by the wet autumn/winter weather conditions. The majority of the works
were completed by May 2001 and the course is now growing in. The full
course is scheduled to be opened in July 2002.
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Haigh
Hall Golf Complex
The Haigh Hall golf complex comprising the 18 hole Balcarres course, 9 hole Crawford course, practice driving range, large pitching green, Himalayas putting green and two practice putting green was opened this autumn by the Mayor of Wigan. Old Tom Morris told local school children about the history of golf while Noel Hunt gave a marvelous demonstration of how to play with almost anything.
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The
project was funded by The National Lottery and included the refurbishment
of the stables by Wigan Architect Emma Birkett to provide an outstanding
Clubhouse.
Delayed by just over a year due to the wet weather
and the failure of the first contractor, the course was completed by J
Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd. The course was designed by Steve Marnoch of
Gaunt and Marnoch and project managed by John Hacker with Gary Owen acting
as Clerk of Works.
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King
George V Playing Fields, Huyton, Nr Liverpool
Over the past two years the King George V playing fields has been completely refurbished by Souters Sports of Stirling.
The works included two completely new crown bowling greens; six new ameliorated and drained pitches, artificial tennis courts and All Weather multisports pitches. The works were specified and partially supervised by John Hacker. Recent newspaper reports have given the new pitches, used for the first time this autumn, rave reviews.
Liverpool City Council - Project Success
PSD have designed and project managed to a successful
conclusion 3 no. synthetic turf facilities for Liverpool City Council.
Picton Sports Centre
The existing full size synthetic pitch was completely
refurbished by Mastersport in 2001 to provide 5 no. sand-filled synthetic
turf courts.
Everton Park Sports Centre
The existing bitmac surfaced facility was completely replaced
by 5 no. synthetic courts each capable of being floodlit independently.
The site was originally terraced housing and ground stabilisation was
required to prevent possible uneven settlement caused by the presence
of old cellars and sewers. The nature of the site certainly provided food
for thought during the design and construction phases. Charles Lawrence
Surfaces Plc, the main contractor, undertook the construction works.
Peter Lloyd Leisure Centre
A greenfield site adjacent to the Leisure Centre was developed to provide 4 no. 5-a-side courts. Each was surfaced with a sand-filled synthetic carpet and floodlights incorporated into the fence line to allow each to be independently lit. Careful earthworks design was required to take into account the presence of sandstone rock within the profile.
Mike Harbridge, PSD's lead consultant, said: "The presence of the sandstone, although causing a headache at the design stage, was an advantage when dealing with the wet weather during the earthworks - it provided a dry, stable formation level." Shaun Drury, Charles Lawrence's contracts manager, added: "Charles Lawrence were very pleased to have been appointed to undertake the works at both Peter Lloyd and Everton Park Sports Centre".
All the facilities are now in use and being used intensively throughout the week.
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