A Subaru damaged the Kings Langley Cricket Club pitch on Wednesday. Repairs will take an estimated 20+ hours.
The car left churned-up grass behind it. The cricket club uses this common, and they estimate repairs will take 20+ hours. The “fun” lasted only 30 seconds, and the chairman, Tom Templeton, was sad about the damage.
Templeton finds the act thoughtless and hopes police catch the suspect. The club has a paid groundskeeper, but volunteers will likely help with repairs to ensure the surface is safe for everyone.
Over 200 people will play cricket this summer. Uneven ground is a risk because balls could bounce and hit someone, and running also becomes difficult. Damage to the wicket area would close it for 2025.
Templeton will report the incident today, believing it was done for “cheap kicks.” Community members gave the club information and shared footage about the driver, and Templeton has been with the club for 15 years.
The footage isn’t clear enough to show a license plate, leading Templeton to think the car might be stolen. The common belongs to the whole village, where people walk dogs and kids play.
Locals called the damage “disgusting,” “disgraceful,” and “so dangerous.” Some think the same car sped through other towns like Chipperfield and Gerrards Cross, and kids also walk across the common regularly.