The first new community cricket ground in London is to open in Lambeth on June 8 as part of a major initiative to give local people the chance to play the game.

The Kennington Community Cricket Ground is a unique public private collaboration - between Lambeth Council, Channel 4, Surrey County Cricket Club, The Lord's Taverners and the United Cricket Association - to bring cricket to inner city areas. It is hoped to be the first of many such ventures across the country.

The new ground is the only cricket pitch in the borough apart from the AMP Oval. Until now local residents have had to travel outside the area to play. The development is the result of 18 months of work and will see junior cricket played this summer, with senior games starting next year.

The opening weekend of June 8 and 9 will feature a celebrity match between a Channel 4 Lambeth XI and The Lord's Taverners Lambeth XI on the Saturday, with local school children participating in the day. Channel 4's Cricket Roadshow, the weekly cricket programme, will be broadcasting live from the ground.

Sunday will be a chance for games and coaching for all local residents who wish to become involved with the newly formed Lambeth United Cricket Club. It will also offer the opportunity to meet members of the Surrey cricket team.

COUNCILLOR CLARE WHELAN, Lambeth: "This a great new resource for young people and the whole community in Lambeth. Cricket really can bring people together, and everyone involved should be congratulated for the way they have worked in partnership with the council to make this project a reality."

David Brook, Channel 4: "The new ground is part of Channel 4's major commitment to inner-city and grassroots development as part of our overall strategy to rejuvenate the domestic game. Kennington Park is the first part of the Brown Sites To Green scheme which aims to create new inner city cricket grounds across the country to encourage and build the game from grass-roots level."

PAUL SHELDON, Surrey CCC: "Surrey CCC are delighted that we are yet again in the position to support and participate in such a worthwhile and exciting community project. It will strengthen our links with the local community as well as furthering our development of cricket in London."

VINCE MCBEAN, United Cricket Association (UCA) "This is the first major step in providing a clear pathway into cricket for our community. We still need the financial and human resources to build a facility that will enable local cricketers to progress into the cricket pyramid system. The UCA is here to provide the umbrella organisation needed to sustain and develop cricket for local people by local people. The new cricket facility will cost £1.4m to build, the fund-raising now begins."

MARK WILLIAMS, The Lord's Taverners: "We are delighted to have given £25,000 towards the Kennington ground. Increasing the opportunities for young people to play cricket is at the heart of our mission to give young people a sporting chance".

© Surrey CCC