🏏 Exciting news for Swansea cricket fans! Swansea Cricket Club has been granted planning permission to upgrade its new home, just a couple of miles from their former stomping ground at St Helen’s. After saying goodbye to St Helen’s to make room for an 8,000-capacity rugby venue for the Ospreys, the club is set to start fresh at the Sketty Lane fields.
Swansea Council is funding the move, which includes a brand new cricket square and improved drainage. There’s also a plan to build a modular clubhouse, covered practice nets, and make other upgrades. The goal? To transform the place into a thriving community hub, while ensuring the facilities support top-notch cricket action.
The relocation hasn’t been without its hurdles. A proposed access route via Cwm Farm Lane met with local objections due to concerns about traffic and preserving community tranquillity. However, after some clever adjustments, Sketty Lane will remain the primary access, with improvements for better visibility and a smart “left in, left out” traffic system planned. Plus, a new 32-space car park is on the cards!
There’s talk of merging Swansea Cricket Club and Swansea Civil Service Cricket Club, with shared ground maintenance and pitch prep duties, although some aspects are still being finalised. All these changes will help cater to local cricket enthusiasts, with plans for alternate match usage on Saturdays.
While last season saw mixed results on the field, with Swansea Cricket Club in Division 1 and Swansea Civil Service Cricket Club in Division 2, there’s plenty of optimism in the community about the future. With all these upgrades, there’s no telling where their next swing will take them.
Stay tuned for more updates, and get ready for an exciting new chapter in Swansea’s cricket story! 🏏✨