The Telham-based outfit has been granted £38,256 from Biffa for a new three-lane practice net and training area. Club secretary Mandy Brookes revealed planning for the project started three years ago when it became obvious that the old nets were becoming outdated, this coincided with promotion into the Sussex Cricket League. She said: “The league advised that our compact sized ground did not conform to ECB minimum standards so the club set about both problems, firstly to enlarge the playing area by a massive 50 per cent and then to build new nets. “Having received planning permission, work started in September of last year with thousands of tons of soil being brought in. The groundwork was completed in April with extra space for the new nets, which when built will conform to exacting ECB specifications and will not be bettered by any club of our status in East Sussex.” The demanding Biffaward application process took several months to finalise. With support from the local community including endorsements from Hastings MP Amber Rudd, ex-Hastings Mayor Cllr Kim Forward and many local sporting organisations the outcome was by no means a foregone conclusion. Brookes went on: “Biffaward were very helpful and we were delighted if overwhelmed when news that our application had been successful was confirmed earlier in the year.” The club will be celebrating the conclusion of the ground development at its annual Club Day with a challenge match between the President’s XI and the Chairman’s XI on Sunday. All visitors and supporters are welcome. Biffaward is a multi-million pound fund which awards grants to community and environmental projects across the UK. See Friday’s Hastings and Battle Observers for the full article.