CHELMSFORD City Council is carrying out work to replace the surfaces of two hockey and football pitches at Chelmer Park, accessed from Beehive Lane, Chelmsford from June 19 to August 14.

The playing surfaces, owned by Chelmsford Hockey Club and Chelmsford City Council, are wearing out and will be replaced with the latest sand-dressed artificial grass.

While the work is being carried out, the pitches will not be available for use.

A small area of the car park will be used as a works compound and this area will be fenced off to ensure safety.

The footpath, cycleway and outdoor gym will not be affected and will remain open.

Bob Massey, councillor for parks, said, “Chelmsford City Council is committed to investing in grassroots sport and we are pleased to announce that hockey and football teams at Chelmer Park will soon be able to play on a modern, high-quality pitch.

"We understand the importance of these pitches to our local sportspeople. Based on previous years, the period between mid-June and mid-August is the time when the pitches are least used and we have chosen to carry the work out during this period to minimise disruption.”

Once work is complete, the City Council-owned pitch playing surface will be available for both hockey and football use, as previously.

Chelmsford Hockey Club’s pitch, for which resurfacing is funded by the club, will be for hockey use only.

The new playing surfaces will be the most modern and up-to-date available, improving the playing experience for years to come.