Lintz Banks on cash donation for renovation

A FLOURISHING County Durham cricket club has completed the conversion of one of the rooms in its pavilion to create a new focal point for village activity.

Lintz CCC has redesigned and refurbished its existing two-storey lounge and bar area to create a new single-storey community room at its Lumley Gardens ground in Burnopfield with fullyaccessible doors, corridors and toilet.

The project stemmed from the increasing numbers of junior members and families who were making use of the club’s facilities, as well as the recent closure of two pubs within half a mile of the ground which had created a growing need for a new place for local people to come together.

As well as using its own resources, the club has received funding for the £30,000 project from Sport England and a £5,000 grant from County Durham-based mining, property and renewable energy firm The Banks Group.

An official opening event for the new room will be held before the start of the 2020 season - but bookings are already being made for private functions and events.

Originally founded in 1906, Lintz CC play in the Northumberland and Tyneside League and run three senior teams as well as five junior sides from under-nines up to under-17s.

Around 60 local children took part in regular Friday night Cricket All Stars sessions during the summer as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s national drive to introduce more children aged between five and eight to the game.

Lintz president Robert Jackson MBE said: “Our junior sections are more popular than they have ever been.

“Having so many young people, parents and families around the club made us think about the facilities we were able to offer.

“We also already have a number of community groups using our rooms, with more coming in after the pub closures.

“However, it was pretty obvious the layout was not suitable for all their needs, as well as ours, and we needed to make improvements.

“Having made a big investment in upgrading our changing rooms last year, this whole idea would have remained a pipe dream without the backing we have had from Sport England and the Banks Group.

“Bookings are already beginning to come in as local people find out about what we can now offer.”