As you will all be aware, the Scottish Government announced on Thursday that the country is now moving to Stage Two of the Route Map to recovery. While the announcement did not signal any immediate change for the club, it does allow for some cricket activity to begin in the near future.
We thought that it would be helpful to update you on the work that the club is already undertaking in preparation for a return to cricket and social activities.
We have established three workstreams and members of the committee are progressing these as quickly as possible and in light of what is permissible and the guidance available.
Cricket
Cricket Scotland has confirmed that some cricket activity will be able to resume from Monday 29th June 2020, as part of revised exercise and physical activity guidelines. They are now working with SportScotland and the Scottish Government to develop detailed guidance for clubs, which will be available in the near future.
The club has already given detailed consideration to how it might manage both a return to cricket training and a resumption in some junior cricket activities. This work will be finalised when we receive the guidance from Cricket Scotland, at which point we will be in a position to publish our plans and details of the safe operating arrangements we are putting in place.
Bar and Social Activity
Thursday’s Scottish Government announcement did not include a firm date for re-opening bars, restaurants and cafes for outdoor service. This position will be reviewed on 2 July 2020.
The club has a workstream on this and we are carefully examining the practicality and financial viability of re-opening within the context of physical distancing guidance and the limitations and challenges this will bring.
Our aim is to reach a clear decision on what is possible and sustainable by the end of June, in anticipation of the next Scottish Government announcement.
Grounds Maintenance and Improvements
With the gradual opening up of non-essential businesses and activities, we believe that it will be possible for the Club to take forward ground maintenance and improvement work in the near future.
We have established a list of jobs to be taken forward, which include:
- Repainting the tea room and some other external painting work
- Gardening and general grounds maintenance
- Upgrading the tearoom kitchen
- Completing the redecoration of the changinging rooms
We have assessed the risks involved in this work and developed a set of operating arrangements which we believe will allow them to proceed safely in the very near future.
We will publish more detailed information on this soon, at which point we will be seeking help from volunteers.
The news that some cricket activities can resume in July was very positive, albeit that it still falls some way short of a resumption to club fixtures.
Rest assured that the club is doing all that it can to prepare for a return to something closer to “normal business”.
We will continue to keep you informed of progress and developments.
In the meantime, Stay Safe, Protect Others, Save Lives