Pitch perfect - Estover playing field in March should have nine sports pitches and a modern pavilion by summer 2018

Views of what Estover pavilion is to look like (Image: Archant)

Estover playing field in March will be turned into a haven for sports fans with the ambitious project made possible after a committee was set up to make sure the recreation ground was never turned into a housing estate.

With funding form March Town Council, Fenland District Council and the Football Foundation it is hoped work will start this summer.

Clive Lemmon, March Town Council clerk and treasurer of the Estover Playing Field committee, said: “The hard work put in by so many people is now coming to fruition and we look forward to exciting times ahead.”

Councillor Kit Owen, chairman of the Estover committee, said: “The best things in life are a long time coming.

Views of what Estover pavilion is to look like (Image: Archant)

“This project, which has been welcomed by so many people, has taken much longer than anticipated but we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel with a proposed project completion date for Estover.”

The 19-acre former March Grammar School playing field will be divided into a three acre fenced off area for general use and dog walking.

There is then an enclosed flood lit area which will cover:

• Two netball courts that could also be used as 5 a-side pitches.

Views of what Estover pavilion is to look like (Image: Archant)

• A single storey pavilion and parking spaces.

• A 3G all weather pitch costing more than £600,000.

Not in the flood lit area will be:

• Two eleven-a-side pitches.

Views of what Estover pavilion is to look like (Image: Archant)

• Two nine-a-side pitches.

• Two seven-a-side pitches.

• Two five-a-side pitches.

• A cricket square will be included if required.

Mr Lemmon said that lux levels from the flood lighting system reduce to zero at 20 to 30 metres from each floodlight - the nearest home is about 100 metres away.

The modern design pavilion will have four changing rooms, each with showers and toilets while lockers will be in a separate room with enough for eight teams.

There will be a separate changing room and toilets for officials as well as toilets for spectators.

The bar, kitchen and community area will be available to hire in addition to being used on match days. and there will also be an office and community club room.

Plans are now with Fenland District Council which the committee hopes will be approved with no hitches to allow them to go to funders in the second half of April.

If answers are received as scheduled then work will be able to start in the summer.

Estover playing field has been on a 99 year lease from Cambridgeshire County Council at a peppercorn rent of £1 a year since November 2015.