By BVIFA
BVIFA Executives, President, Mr. Andy Bickerton (R) and Avanell Morton on site at the BVIFA’s new East End Stadium. Photo:BVIFA
Dr. Ian Mc Clements, consultant for STRI, a Turfgrass Research and Consultancy Business from the United Kingdom, completed a successful visit to the BVIFA’s new East End Stadium on Friday 11th September, 2015, giving the all clear for the next stage to begin.
Dr. McClements, who is a FIFA Consultant for the artificial turf pitch installation, which forms the next stage of the FA’s Goal Project, was very impressed with the preparation of the site, including the leveling and compaction “in terms of the development, the filling of the site etc, it has progressed quite well and we can now start the next stage which is putting the pitch installation out to tender. Everything is progressing quite nicely”
BVIFA Executives, President, Mr. Andy Bickerton, First Vice President, Mr. Aubrey Liburd and Avanell Morton also attended the site inspection and as Bickerton explained, there would be some delays to the original date line, but they were to be expected as the project moves forward.
“We are very happy as well,” Bickerton noted. “The earth moving has progressed on time, the leveling and the fill at the site has been of the highest quality and will be completed, once the guts have been covered.”
The pitch installation will take a little longer than originally expected as both the Consultant and the Contractors begin to iron out the specifics of the layout, required drainage, and location of the bases for the flood lights, and irrigation pumps, pipes and sprinkler heads.
One Consultant is usually in charge of each project from start to finish and as McClements said, “I will make a number of visits during the various phases of the project, with the next visit due to take place when the pitch has been constructed to the sub base stage.”
McClements then expected to make a follow up visit in another six months to one year after the final installation to see how it has been contained and if there are any issues with the pitch.
Back n March 2014 during a FIFA development committee meeting, the BVIFA was granted approval for the project as part of the FIFA Goal Program.
The project includes a 2000 seat main stand, 400-meter track and field, a regulation-sized soccer field with associated facilities, a netball court/volleyball court, concession stands and more than 200 parking spaces. There will also be the construction of an access road between the parking lot and stadium by Andy’s Car Wash.
