SPORTS clubs in Swindon are praying for more rain as the hosepipe ban threatened to turn pitches to dust and lead to fixtures being postponed or cancelled.

The restrictions, applying to private and council facilities, could render playing surfaces unplayable or turn them to mud if grass is not regrown before next winter.

Thames Water has imposed the ban to deal with the threat of the worst drought since 1976, and it could stay until Christmas despite this week’s wet weather.

Martin Bryan, chairman of Swindon Supermarine Sports and Social Club, said: “Unless the rain does continue for a prolonged spell, our pitches could be wrecked.

“No one seems to know how long we would need significant rainfall for the ban to be lifted.

“The impact on a club like ours could be catastrophic.

“We were planning to spend a lot of money re-seeding all our pitches for the first time in quite a few years.

“But if you can't put any water down on the seed you are wasting your time and money.

“If it doesn't happen it means conditions on the pitches will be pretty dire.”

Swindon Supermarine hosts football, rugby and archery, while bowling and diving clubs have their own grounds on a site spread out over more than 30 acres.

The drought is also threatening Swindon Rugby Club, in Dorcan, where 60 tonnes of sand were added to the main pitch on Tuesday.

The upcoming season faces disruption unless this week’s rainfall carries on well into the summer.

The biggest threat is that grass seeds will fail to germinate and bond with the sand surface in time for the first fixtures.

Chairman Stuart Cock said: “The hosepipe ban is irrelevant as we have got more than 10 acres and wouldn’t be able to water our pitch if we wanted to.

“The issue for us is lack of water or lack of rainfall. This week for the second time in nine months we have had to put 60 tonnes of sand on the pitch to fill the holes and it went like nothing.

“The rainfall this week is fantastic but what we need is a wet summer. If we have another summer like last year we might not get the start to the season we need. It’s in the hands of the Gods.”

Council facilities affected by the ban include five bowls clubs and Broome Manor, Highworth and Coate Water pitch and putt golf courses.

Martin Edwards, president of Haydon Wick bowls club, is also hoping the rain continues to fall.

“The ban could affect us as our green is based on sand and it drains pretty well,” he said. “It could be pretty yellow come the summer with the surface being quite fast.

“The grass does recover well, though, and we don’t need lush green pitches like other sports so hopefully it should be all right.

“There’s nothing we can do about it so we’ll have to wait and see. If it gets really bad we will get watering cans out and put a bit of moisture in where it’s really needed.”

Cricket clubs have been given an exemption allowing them to water the square, but not the outfield.

Liam Tucker, ex first-team captain at Swindon Cricket Club, said: “There is obviously some concern that there will be disruption but until we get to the summer we won’t really know how it will affect us. We are monitoring the situation and keeping in touch with the English Cricket Board. We have a groundsman and are one of the bigger clubs in the area, so we won’t be as badly affected as some.”

PITCHES UNUSABLE

SPORT England has warned that four in 10 pitches nationally could become unusable because of hosepipe bans brought in by seven water companies.

Helen Griffiths, of the Fields in Trust charity, said: “It is a real shame that during the Olympic year when we were hoping to get more people to take part in sport, sports fields could dry out.”

Thames Water has provided an exemption for ‘national and international sporting events’, but amateur clubs can only break the ban for health and safety reasons.

Simon Evans, media relations manager for Thames Water, said: “Our hosepipe ban was put in place after the driest two years on record. We are prioritising certain uses of water now so there is some to go round later. The reason for the ban as it affects sport is so that there will be water for other things.”

Councils have been advised by Sport England, a Government agency, to prepare sports fields now for a dry summer using recycled water from sewage works, stored rainwater or drip irrigation systems.