Pitch Drainage Works at
Chester- Le - Street

Preparation has begun for the installation of a new drainage system at Durhams CC ground in Chester-Le-Street. The work is to be carried out by White Horse Contractors, the specialist natural and artificial turf construction company.

What is being done?

Work can be broken down into the following tasks:

1. Removing the existing turf from the outfield.
2. Stripping of topsoil, grading of subsoil and replacement of topsoil to create improved
levels that marry to the square and the existing boundary, especially upslope of the
square. Currently water runs from the pavilion side of the ground onto the square and
the aim is to eliminate this in the future.
3. The installation of a system of main, collector, lateral and sand slit drains.
4. Connection of the system to the existing outfall drain to the river.
5. The installation of an automatic pop-up irrigation sprinkler system including a new
storage tank and pump system.
6. Spread of rootzone material to provide a stone-free layer on the surface.
7. Fertilisation, turfing with washed turf and re-establishment.

What are the Timescales?

The project is hugely weather reliant. It is hoped if the weather stays good the vast majority of the work will be completed by Christmas. The following gives an indicative timetable of what is happening.

Contractor appointed Aug 09
Work commences Sep 09
Turf & topsoil removal, subsoil grading and topsoil spread & grade. Sep /Oct 09
Drainage and irrigation installed Oct / Nov 09
Rootzone spread Dec 09
Turfing completed Dec 09 – Jan 10
Outfield maintained Jan 10 – Apr 10
Outfield ready for play Apr 10