Basildon's national standard netball courts completed

Work on 12 national standard netball courts at Gloucester Park North has been completed, marking the first phase of the Basildon Sporting Village.

The courts have been finished in time to host the Basildon and District Netball Association league finals on Monday night (30^th March), when four finals will take place at 8pm to decide the top teams of the 2008/09 season from the thirteen divisions.

Councillor Kevin Blake, Cabinet Member for Leisure and the Arts, says:  "The completion of this work signals the start of work on the Basildon Sporting Village, and will enable the site to become a Regional Centre of Netball, with these new courts complementing the 2 indoor courts that will be provided as part of the Sporting Village facility.  We are pleased that the facility has been finished in time to host the Basildon and District finals, and we look forward to hosting many more."

Tricia Garrard, Chair of the Basildon and District Netball association says: "We are delighted to have moved to the new netball courts, and our 1400 members look forward to the development of the Sporting Village where there will be an additional 2 indoor courts suitable for internationals, and much improved changing facilities.  Monday's finals are the perfect opportunity to showcase the new courts, and we look forward to many more finals on these national standard courts."

The old courts were in need of resurfacing to meet England Netball standards, and the new facilities will provide the thousands of netball players that play every evening and at the weekends with much improved courts.  A netball expert recommended by England Netball was used to advise the Council on the alignment and lighting of the new courts.