Horse damages cricket pitch

From the archive, first published Tuesday 30th Jan 2007.

Damage done to a cricket club's pitch by uncaring horse riders will cost it hundreds of pounds to repair in time for the new season.

And club owners fear any repairs will be a short-lived because of vandalism, dog fouling and littering at the site every day.

Billy Ricketts, the groundsman at Saltaire Cricket Club, which is next to the village's Roberts Park, said problems had existed since 1998 - with anti-social behaviour, horses and dogs among the worst issues.

The most recent damage was caused by a horse being ridden across the Council-owned cricket pitch, outfield and adjoining football pitch.

Pits caused by the horse's hooves sinking into the sodden ground will cost the club hundreds of pounds to refill and repair in time for the start of the season in April.

"It will take 20 man-hours to refill each hole and re-seed it. Someone physically has to repair the land. If we put it out to contractors it would cost £200 to £300," said Mr Ricketts.

"The football pitch is also unusable. I'm a football referee and someone is going to break their leg on that pitch."

John Scholefield, Bradford Council's principal parks and landscape manager, said: "We will visit the cricket ground and football pitch to assess the damage and take whatever action we can to make the ground and pitch fit for use."