Statement from the Committee of Ashwell Cricket Club that has been received by Ashwell Parish Council

Dear Residents of Ashwell

We are writing on behalf of Ashwell Cricket Club to directly address concerns regarding our water usage during the current Affinity Water Temporary Use Ban. We understand it may frustrate residents to see our sprinkler used while the village adheres to home restrictions. We want to transparently explain why this watering is legally permitted, structurally necessary, and critical for public safety.

Compliance with Affinity Water Guidance

Ashwell's water supplier, Affinity Water, maintains strict rules during a hosepipe ban. However, their official framework includes specific exemptions for recreational grass sports grounds.

Affinity Water Guidance permits the targeted watering of active playing surfaces, such as cricket creases, strictly for health and safety purposes.This is not a license to water the entire ground. Watering outfields or surrounding grass remains completely banned, and we strictly adhere to this. We only water the specific wickets being prepared for upcoming matches. Furthermore, we are doing this in the evening with a time limited sprinkler.

Preventing Irreparable Pitch Damage

Cricket wickets are made on prepared soil (we spend all winter spiking, overseeding, applying loam, rolling, etc) and entirely different from residential lawns.

Without controlled moisture, the soil shrinks, bakes dry, and cracks deeply. Once the soil dies and structurally collapses in extreme heat, it cannot be revived by rain.

If the square was allowed to die off it would require a full, costly excavation and rebuild that we could not afford.

Player safety

The most critical reason we water the wicket is to maintain player safety. An unwatered, bone-dry wicket creates dangerous, unpredictable divots and deep cracks. A hard cricket ball traveling at high speeds hitting a crack can deflect sharply toward a batsman’s face or throat, risking injury. Last summer, several players were hit on the head by variable bouncing balls as the ground grew drier and drier.

Ashwell Cricket Club is fully committed to environmental responsibility and we actively minimize our water consumption. The square has been hardly watered this summer. We carry out watering during low-evaporation hours to ensure every drop counts.We deeply appreciate your understanding, patience, and continued support in keeping local sport alive and safe during this challenging summer. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to the club committee via the Parish Council.

Yours sincerely

Ashwell Cricket Club Committee