Nottinghamshire Cricket Vice-Chairman Thankful for Council Backing

Richard Tennent, vice-chariman of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, has praised the vision of Nottinghamshire County Council for providing a £900,000 grant towards the funding of a £1.8 million replay screen at Trent Bridge ahead of the Ashes this summer.

The new screen, designed by Huw Evans of Maber Associates, will be the largest outdoor screen in Europe and is set to improve the matchday experience of cricket fans.

The council recognised the benefits of keeping Test cricket at Trent Bridge, leading to their decision to part-finance the project, which has created 300 local jobs to develop the scoreboard.

Tennent said: “The sheer size of the screen and the quality of it is breathtaking and it will be a special moment when the first ball is bowled at the outset of the Ashes series.

“Nottinghamshire County Council have been steadfast supporters of our efforts to ensure the long-term prosperity of Test cricket in Nottinghamshire because the knock-on effects of games of this type are huge.

“We have committed to the delivery of a social inclusion project in Hawtonville as a condition of this funding where we will use the same model that has delivered an 80% reduction in juvenile crime in Cotgrave over the past three years.”

Councillor Kay Cutts added: “It is unthinkable to imagine Trent Bridge without Test matches but that was a genuine possibility before the funding was in place to deliver the second replay screen.

“This development will help to preserve Test cricket which will in turn enable the club to continue to deliver schemes for the benefit of the community and the local economy.

“Furthermore, these matches will place Nottinghamshire in the global spotlight, particularly when the world’s media descend this July.”