By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

THE cricketers of Shaldon Optimists CC may have only just completed one improvement project, but are already hard at work on another.

Two years ago the club announced plans to build a £500,00 pavilion on the ground, but for one reason or another that scheme has stalled.

Now the three-lane practice net has been completed, a revised pavilion scheme is back on the agenda.

And members who turned up for the ceremonial opening of the new nets at Hazeldown heard all about the pavilion project, once the formalities and ‘thank-yous’ were out of the way.

Professional cricketer Amara Carr, who started out in club cricket with Plympton before joining Women’s Super League side Western Storm and recently the Sunrisers regional hub squad in the South East, was guest of honour at the opening of the club’s new £46,800 practice facility.

Viridor Credits Environmental Company provided the funding for the new three-lane, all-weather surfaced net complex laid out in a corner of the ground.

Exclusive Leisure, a Leicester-based company that specialises in artificial sports surfaces, took two and a half weeks to level the site of the nets, lay the base and complete the fitting out.

“Without the support of Viridor Credits Environmental Company and the expertise of Exclusive Leisure we would not have the marvellous facility you can see now,” said club chairman Glynn Ballman.

“Neither of them are represented here tonight, but we should give them both a round of applause.”

Coun Peter Williams, the deputy mayor of Teignmouth, made a short speech congratulating the Optimists on its latest development, adding that the club was an asset to the town.

After a brief question-and-answer session with project manager Gary Abraham, the nets were officially opened by Carr, who cut the ceremonial ribbon then joined players and coaches for their first training session.

No sooner had Carr officially declared the new nets open, Ballman and project manager Abraham were hard at work spreading the word about their next venture.

Abraham, who will be in charge of the build project, said the plans had been scaled back to make the dream of a new pavilion a reality.

“What we were looking at before was a bit too ambitious in terms of funding and likely running costs and we came to realise that,” said Abraham.

“Our latest plan retains many of the original features, but comes in at a lot less than the £500,000 we started out with.

“We are now looking at around £160,000 and have already been investigating where we can possibly obtain grant funding to supplement our own fund-raising.

“Viridor don’t do new-build projects now, but we are hoping they will be able to help with fitting out costs.”

Abraham told members and friends ‘innovative’ solutions were needed to raise money towards the building project.

One of the first to get off the ground will be the Century Club draw with a guaranteed prize of £100 every month.

“If we fill all the places we should be able to raise £30,000 through the Century Club,” said Abraham.

To sign up for the Century Club contact Abraham direct on 07971 463006.