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About
Ground in Swindon called “Lydiard Millicent Cricket Square” is a well-established sporting facility located at the Recreation Field. The field was gifted to the parish by a local family in the late 1970s or early 1980s for the purpose of allowing residents and others to engage in various sports and exercise activities. The Cricket Square, which has been in existence for at least twenty years, has been a significant part of this recreational space.
Historically, both Shaw Football Club and Lydiard Millicent Cricket Club utilised the facilities. However, after the dissolution of the Lydiard Millicent teams, Purton Cricket Club took over the management of the Cricket Square. In recent years, however, the square has fallen into disuse and has been roped off, leading to deterioration. An attempt was made in 2014 to revive the square's usage, but internal problems within the interested Cricket Club hindered its progress.
In Wiltshire, the trend has been to replace grass cricket squares with artificial ones due to their reported lower maintenance costs. Nonetheless, traditional cricket teams still prefer playing on a grass wicket. Grass cricket squares are known to be financially challenging to maintain, often resulting in annual losses for their owners.
Adjacent to the Cricket Square is the Jubilee Club House, which was built in 2002 to replace the original wooden pavilion that was destroyed in an arson attack in 1997. The 200,000 project was funded through grants from organisations such as Biffa Waste, the Football Foundation, and NWDC, as well as contributions from the Parish Council. The Club House features four communal changing rooms, two referee changing rooms, a meeting room, a kitchen, a storeroom, and restrooms for both genders and disabled individuals.
Unfortunately, the Club House has not been used to its full potential since its opening. Concerns were raised in the past about noise and unruly behaviour at the site, leading to complaints from local residents. These issues may have contributed to the underutilisation of the facility.
Aside from cricket, the Recreation Field also offers amenities such as a fenced area for Petanque (a form of boules) and an enclosed play area suitable for children up to 10 years old. The field is also commonly used for dog exercising. Pedestrian access is available at all times, though the entrance gate is only open when the facility is in use. The field has 50 parking spaces available for visitors.
There has been recent interest in reviving the usage of the Cricket Square. Local cricket enthusiasts have expressed their desire to see the square brought back to its former glory. The Lydiard Millicent Parish Council is optimistic about the potential for renewed interest in cricket and is considering the various factors involved in deciding the future direction of the Recreation Field and the Cricket Square in particular.