Churchill Playing Fields Althetics Track - Whitley Bay
Athletics Track Refurbishment
Whitley Bay, a seaside town on the North East coast, boasts a 4500m² six-lane 400 metre athletics track owned by North Tyneside Council. This project involved the refurbishment of this athletics track and the associated facilities.
The existing track, which was originally converted from a cinder surface during the 1990’s and further refurbished in 2002, was showing many signs of wear and tear. The black base mat was exposed in a number of places and had even started deteriorating in several of these areas.
The refurbishment therefore involved the removal of the existing surface, several localised repairs to the macadam base and the installation of a new porous UK Athletics certified system. This was made up of a 10mm thick polyurethane bound elastic layer based on recycled granules and a 3 mm PUR spray coating as a top layer. The high-quality PUR top layer provides good spike, mechanical and weather resistance. Due to its structure, it also offers excellent grip – both in wet and dry conditions.
The project scope also included all the track inner kerb & mowing margin being replaced, new drainage for the track infield, a new IAAF throwing cage was also supplied and installed among other equipment to bring the facility up to date with current guidelines. Work was also carried out to install a new perimeter fence and entry system to protect the track from misuse.
Tyneside Councillor Sarah Day, cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said: “It’s really important that we continue to maintain and improve our sporting facilities in the borough for residents and sports clubs to enjoy. This work will ensure that a valued community asset continues to provide opportunities in sport for local people and is a further sign of our commitment to keeping standards high at all our sports and leisure facilities in the borough.”
The track is now used by NOTAN (North of Tyne Athletics network) and North Shields Polytechnic Club who both train and host competitions. The facility will also continue to be let for school use.
