THE extensive flooding which hit Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde after road improvement contractors accidentally burst a mains water pipe, is causing huge headache for Island Speedway and Ryde Saints Football Club chiefs who share use of the sports facility.  

The incident occurred around lunchtime on Friday while contractors worked on the main road adjacent to Smallbrook. 

Many areas of the stadium site were quickly submerged.

The speedway pits, stands, grass verges, speedway track and football pitch have been badly affected — and there are also suggestions there may be ingress into the main building around the gymnasium area.

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Isle of Wight County Press:

Shocked Wightlink Warriors co-owner, Barry Bishop, who went to the stadium after being shown images of the flooding, said: “It is of great concern. Such a deluge of water can create considerable damage — some of which may not yet be visible.

"We are now working with Southern Water and their contractors to resolve the situation, so we can get the stadium operating and back to normal as fast as possible.

"Luckily, the forecast of mild, dry weather will help us."

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"I know this incident will be heart-breaking for all the volunteers who worked tirelessly last week on stadium improvements," he said.

"It is such a shame, but ultimately these things happen and we should tackle this head-on and positively, fix it, and keep up the great work we do to keep the stadium so attractive and welcoming for all.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Isle of Wight County Press:

"I would like to thank the local volunteers for protecting what they could and getting the recovery operation moving. 

"There will be a lot of work to be done over the next few days, but we are determined to be ready for the planned training school, My First Skid, on Thursday and support all those who will be working to return the stadium to normal operations as fast as possible."

Ryde Saints were due to play a vital derby match against Ryde club, Oakfield, in Division 1 of the Island League yesterday (Saturday) — but that was called off. 

Ryde Saints chairman, Jamie Humm, said: "Our drainage ties in to the stadium site's main drainage system, so an assessment will need to be carried out in due course to see what damage may have been done to the drainage network as shale was washed into it.

"It's a bit early to say what impact this has had, but it appears that our changing rooms are not damaged. Thankfully, they are on a 2ft high raised area.

"It's going to be a bit of a wait and see about what this flooding has had on our drainage and pitch playability."

Isle of Wight County Press:

With Smallbrook's pitch lying on a clay layer, drainage this time of the year tends to be a relatively slow process, so this flood will be a blow to the club — and Newport Football Club who groundshare this season — in their efforts to get games on.

Jamie added: "Yes, this is a big setback. Progress will, of course, depend on the weather.

"We are more concerned about Island Speedway, following all of their recent volunteer efforts, particularly their track and our pitch.

"When we had the flash floods last summer, our new drainage stood up really well. We put about £60,000 worth of it in a few years ago. It has been a great success.

"However, we are hampered by the clay base under the pitch, so that will be a challenge and that will never go away.

"It's a £2 million job, which is never going to happen, so we're always going to have to live with a clay base.

Isle of Wight County Press:

"Before we had the drainage, this kind of flood would have had water standing on the pitch for days."

The Isle of Wight Table Tennis Group's facility also lies within the flooded area. Efforts were made in vain to get a response from them.