Broughton High School is ecstatic that the school field, which has been closed for eight years due to a large hole appearing, has finally seen extensive works carried out by Duncan Ross Ltd, bring it back to life and with it, extending the fantastic sporting facilities on offer.
Over the course of the last year, Lancashire County Council brought in drainage specialists Duncan Ross who were able to suggest a lasting solution and action the change over the summer holiday period.
Based in Burscough, Lancashire, Duncan Ross Ltd has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading sports turf contractors, with decades of experience in natural turf construction, drainage, and renovation.
The company is regularly commissioned by schools, councils, and sports clubs to deliver robust, long-term solutions that combine technical expertise with an understanding of how facilities are actually used on a day-to-day basis.
“Concerns were raised by the school, to the Local Authority, about the safety of the field”, recalls Mark Hodges, Contracts Manager at the Council. “We got a range of other contractors in, and drainage specialists, and they came up with some proposed solutions, but we didn’t fully understand what the issue was.”
The school began using a small section of the field two years ago. However, in bad weather, it quickly became unplayable, underscoring the need to identify the underlying issue. To do that, Mark approached Duncan Ross.
Duncan Ross initiated a thorough investigation, utilising site knowledge and aerial imagery to pinpoint the fault. The team traced the issue to a broken main drain, which was likely damaged years earlier when heavy vehicles became bogged down on the pitch.
Since then, the old network of drains beneath the surface had silted up beyond repair. The clear choice was to replace the entire system.
“It was cheaper to install new drainage,” Mark explains. “So again, we got Duncan to design the system.”
The company specified a comprehensive scheme, installing carrier, main, and lateral drains at five-metre centres. Inspection chambers, junctions, and outfalls were included for ease of future maintenance.
Once installed, the field received a full programme of post-drainage operations including decompaction to relieve construction compaction, sand topdressing to improve infiltration and surface regularity, overseeding for density, and targeted fertiliser applications to drive establishment. Final as-built drawings provided the Council with a clear record for future stewardship.
After a journey spanning Mark’s five years at Lancashire County Council, experiencing the way Duncan Ross operated brought confidence that the project would be a success. “It was reassuring, to be honest, working with somebody who understands the needs of the school, understands what we’re trying to achieve, and coming up with a solution.” That confidence was rewarded as the project moved from design to delivery.
With the core works complete, the next phase is about consolidation. “All the drainage works are complete,” Hodges says. “We’re waiting for the weather to improve so we can do the next phase, which is top dressing and overseeding. The field will see limited use this term, with full availability expected by next spring once the surface has bedded in.”
“That bedding-in period will be carefully managed. I’ve got to work with the school to be able to manage the pitch and make sure they don’t overplay it in wet weather and damage the surface.”
Speaking about the project, Headteacher David Botes added: “I’ve been extremely happy with the work carried out by Duncan Ross. Throughout the project, the company were professional, amenable, polite, on task and approachable. The work on the field is to an excellent standard, and we are extremely pleased.
“Duncan and his team are, as one, very easy to work with and we would not hesitate in recommending them to others or using them ourselves for future projects.”
For Broughton High School, the project marks the end of years of uncertainty and the beginning of a reliable new chapter in sport, while for Lancashire County Council, it represents a demonstration of evidence-led planning and investment.
