WORK will start on Monday to transform Droitwich’s King George V Playing Fields into a state-of-the-art sports hub which will benefit the whole town.
The complete rebuild is estimated to be costing around £2million and all the funding is in place for the project.
It will see the pavilion refurbished, the clubhouse, changing rooms and toilets upgraded to make them fully accessible and two new pitches created – a 3G floodlit pitch and a floodlit stadia pitch.
The latter will have seating and, because it will meet the FA standards, will mean ‘football’s coming home’ for the Droitwich Spa FC teams.
The first team has had to play its home games in Stourport because the ground was not up to scratch and the women’s, veterans’, boys and girls teams, which have also been playing their football elsewhere, will also be able to return for next season.
The King George V Playing Fields is also home to the Droitwich Spa Boxing Academy and Hockey Club.
The new clubroom will be used for learning and education purposes for schools and there will be a new larger and updated kitchen.
The current outdated set-up is more than 40 years old and the new hub will enable more people in Droitwich to participate in sport, exercise and be more active.
The build – depending on weather, materials and other factors – should be completed in 28 weeks.
Wayne Oliver, former Droitwich Spa FC and now club director, said: “The fund-raising has been superb – we have had such amazing support from everyone.
“Wychavon District Council, Droitwich Town Council and Wychavon Leisure have been outstanding throughout.
“It’s incredible to think this started out initially as installing a 3G pitch and snowballed from there.
“This will revolutionise sporting facilities in the town and be massive for the community.”
Thanks from CIC boss as organisation is disbanded ‘after completing its mission’
Richard Whittall this week has announced the closure of the King George V Community Interest Company which was set up six years ago to start the improvements to sporting facilities in the town.
He added it had fulfilled its mission and it was great to hand the reins over to Droitwich Spa FC and Wayne Oliver.
Below is his full statement to the people of Droitwich – also printed on this week’s Bromsgrove and Droitwich Standard letters page.
IT IS with mixed emotions we announce the closure of the King George V Community Interest Company.
We have achieved the targets set out in the mission statement we set six years ago –
1. To improve sporting facilities in Droitwich Spa by representing the community to enable a New 3G artificial football pitch to be built.
2. To improve the sports pavilion facilities.
3. To raise funds for the three Droitwich football clubs and the Droitwich Hockey club.
4. To support the return of netball to Droitwich Spa.
5. To increase the numbers playing active sport in Droitwich Spa.
6. To contribute to the local community.
With your continuous support Droitwich Spa is now getting a new artificial football pitch and a refurbished pavilion, and netball will be back this season thanks to all the hard work of Karen Phillips. Between all sports involved with the CIC the number of active participants has grown in excess of 200 individuals, bringing the total number of sport teams to 50.
In that time the pavilion has had –
1. Circa. £80K spent on equipment, decor and Covid 19 preparation.
2. The clubs over the years will have received around £60K by the time the CIC finishes.
3. An allocation of £1million from Wychavon District Council for the new artificial pitch and pavilion refurbishment, helped by the 2,600 signatures on a petition that you, the community, supported to Wychavon District Council.
4. Supported Wychavon Council in obtaining a grant for the pitch from the football foundation
5. £10,000 has been donated to local causes.
The spirit and generosity of our local community during this period has continually inspired us to maintain our course for these achievements.
The baton is now being handed over to the Droitwich Spa Community Football Club in the very capable hands of the stalwart of Droitwich Football for many years Wayne Oliver who we wish every continued success in completing the development with a new Stadia pitch which will enable the Droitwich Spa senior team to return to the town.
We would also like to thank Wychavon District Council, Wychavon Leisure and Droitwich Town Council for their considerable support in achieving these goals.
Once again, from the CIC Directors a massive THANK YOU to every one of you that has supported the CIC over the last six years and we look forward to seeing many of you when the work is completed in February 2022.
Richard Whittall
