Larkhill Eventing and Racecourse is acknowledged as a significant Community Sporting venue by Wiltshire County Council and the Ministry of Defence and raises funds for various charities, including the ABF (the Soldiers Charity), SSAFA and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
As strategic sponsors we’re pleased to see how our support enables new developments and repairs for this valuable service within our local armed forces community. As well as supporting the build of an exciting new water complex due to be completed in 2024, we’re delighted to see key developments in the restoration of the racecourse control tower.
The current control tower was built at the same time as the Queen’s building (circa 2002) and is a wooden structure at the mercy of the elements on Salisbury Plain. In 2020/21 it was apparent that there was an increasing Health and Safety risk and therefore intermediary works were taken to support the structure with a plan to either demolish or refurbish in 2022.
However, a decision not to spend funds in 2022 was based on the announcement that the Racecourse was under threat of closure, with that decision thankfully reversed by the Defence Secretary (Telegraph article here). With the lease of the racecourse renewed and further examination and assurances agreed the committee authorised a total refurbishment which has commenced with the support from SVGC’s sponsorship. Take a look at the project so far…
Building as it was in a tired and unsafe state:
Investigative Works – to inform project timelines and works:
Ground Floor – securing and stabilisation of the building, renewal of beams and uprights as required, fitting of upvc windows and doors.
SVGC’s sponsorship has also helped with the refurbishment of the kitchen (new cooker, extractor and tiling) and the procurement of additional roadside boards to enable publicity further afield.
Future work to fully refurbish the control tower includes the renewal of ground floor flooring, external drainage, wire netting, first floor new upvc doors and an extra window to allow clear view of the horse box park, continue with waterproof membrane and batons, replace stairs and platform, new roof and finish with larch cladding. It’s a big project but one we are pleased to see coming to fruition due to our support.
