FINANCIAL input from three local organisations has helped Ross-on-Wye Sports Centre get back to being the base of sporting activities in the town.

Following an autumn and winter of four back-to-back flooding events that resulted in the loss of over 150 football fixtures and three months of Parkrun, everything is now back in full swing.

Added to the misery of flooded pitches and muddy tracks, the sports centre suffered a double blow to find that its vital drainage infrastructure sustained significant damage and rendered its kitchen and toilet facilities severely compromised by persistent blockages.

With its finances under extreme pressure the centre appealed to local funders to help them in their hour of need.

Not only did they receive a terrific response from Herefordshire Community Foundation, Ross-on-Wye Lions Club and Ross-on-Wye Round Table with each organisation recognising the severity of the situation and hurried through payments to allow commissioning of the necessary work as soon as ground conditions allowed.

Everyone associated with the sports centre would like to send their heartfelt thanks to the three major organisations whose financial help has enabled the exciting programme it has planned for this spring and summer to go ahead.

Over the past four years, following the severe floods of 2020 the sports centre has benefitted from new flood proof measures being installed.

The building, which was constructed in the 1960s, is located on an elevated platform, and now has specialist flood doors on all exits preventing flood water from entering the sports centre.

The centre’s management team have also completely refurbished the building and reconfigured its internal layout and redesigned the social areas including the bar / café area along with providing a new patio outside with a dedicated seating area.

However, the sports centre committee is unable to stop the flooding of its pitches when major events occur.