The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) has created a specialist new committee which will be responsible for developing and overseeing the delivery of a wide-reaching Technical Programme.
Composed of experts from a variety of fields and a range of disciplines, the Technical Committee will also be responsible for agreeing the Association's policies on technical issues pivotal to the industry, such as the construction standards embodied in SAPCA's various Codes of Practice, and coordinating the industry's input into the development of relevant British and European Standards.
The role of the Technical Committee will include the on-going development of SAPCA's technical guidance, which provides valuable advice and information for all those who are involved in the development of sports and play facility projects, across the marketplace. The Committee will also address important technical issues that are often central to the Association's relationships with sports governing bodies, and will oversee the delivery of the Association's regular Technical Meetings.
The Technical Programme also currently includes important research work, such as cooperation with Loughborough University on a project to study the management of water on sports pitches, and work to examine the slip resistance properties of porous macadam surfaces.
The new Technical Committee met for the first time at the Allianz Park Stadium, under the chairmanship of Bill Pomfret, Managing Director of Thornton Sports' synthetic grass manufacturing division, Nordon. Already a Director of SAPCA, Bill was invited by SAPCA's Board to lead the Technical Committee due to his extensive knowledge and experience in the management of a wide variety of sports surfacing projects.
Other members of the committee are: Alastair Cox, Labosport Ltd; Paul Fleming, Loughborough University; Barry Stocker, Genan Ltd; Mark Harrod, Mark Harrod Ltd; Joe Hoekstra, Mondo; Andrew MacAllister, Charles Lawrence Surfaces Ltd; Matt Phillips, Aggregate Industries; Chris Roberts, David Morley Architects; Jon Smith, GeoTurf Consulting; and Jacki Stephen, Bonar Yarns & Fabrics Ltd. The Committee will also benefit greatly from the participation of both Graham Finnie of sportscotland, and Tony Atherton of Sport England.
Bill Pomfret commented: "SAPCA's Technical Programme plays a vital role in the Association's work to raise standards of sports and play facilities. With such a strong group of industry experts now coming together to support the work, I have no doubt that we will expand and strengthen the Technical Programme, and that it will make a significant contribution to the knowledge and information available to the industry and across the marketplace.
