Zero tolerance for the Speedcut team

Speedcut Contractors of Oxford used two new acquisitions on a football pitch project at Basingstoke, Hampshire.

A new Topcon laser, allowing only 3-5mm tolerance in levels, plus a new Caterpillar D6 bulldozer were in action for the first time.

Speedcut have created two full-size pitches as part of a new housing development by Croudace, who agreed to improve sports facilities for Basingstoke.

A Speedcut team of four worked for four weeks on the project. During the first week a full drainage scheme (2,700 metres of pipe) was installed with one of their Mastenbroek laser grade trenchers.

After backfilling with clean aggregate the drains were topped off with specially selected approved sports sand. Then 850 tonnes of sand was blended with the topsoil during the levelling operation.

"With the new dual grade laser we have virtually zero tolerance on levels," says Speedcut director Dick Franklin, founder of the 30-year-old company.

"The Basingstoke job was perfect to test both the Topcon laser and the new Caterpillar, part of the considerable investments we have made in machinery and equipment over the last year."

Foreman Paul Francis said: "There were considerable challenges at Basingstoke but the new Caterpillar made the moving of hundreds of tons of soil and sand much easier."

Following stonepicking a Barenbrug Bar Seven mix of dwarf perennial ryegrass was sown.

Details: Speedcut Contractors on 01865 331479

Image: The Speedcut team with the new Caterpillar D6.