ROSE HILL SCORE WITH NEW SPORTS FACILITY

Rose Hill School, near Wotton-under-Edge, officially marked the opening of its brand new Multi Use Games Area on 5 February 2005.

The main contractor for the project, Grimshaw Kinnear, was on hand to help out with the final stage of the project - a tree planting ceremony.

The Primary school's new sports facility incorporates the most up-to-date artificial carpet. The area, at 60 by 49 metres, is half the size of a full adult hockey pitch. The facility provides for seven-a-side hockey, five-a-side football and boasts three tennis courts and generic sport facilities to ensure year round usage.

The close proximity of the new pitch to the school environment meant that good communication with the school was required during the construction of the area.

Movement of heavy equipment and supplier deliveries had to fit in with the school's timetable to ensure staff and pupil safety and minimum disruption.

Grimshaw Kinnear, which has earned a reputation as a specialist in the construction of sports facilities, handled the entire project from its initial concept to completion, including the sensitive matter of obtaining planning permission for the pitch and its future floodlighting in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In view of the depth of excavation necessary the company engaged the services of a consultant geologist at the design stage to verify the adequacy of the existing ground.

At the formal opening ceremony Peter Grimshaw , Managing Director of Grimshaw Kinnear Ltd was invited to commemorate the occasion by planting one of two trees, which the company had donated to the school.

“It's always a pleasure to work on a project which will benefit children and allow them to have the most state of the art facilities and I have no doubt that this will enhance the learning of the students at Rose Hill,” said Peter.

“This project proved quite challenging, not least when the earthworks operations became water logged. The finished pitch and associated landscaping blends in well with the surrounding area and already the surface is playing extremely well.”