WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket club is looking to secure another venue alongside their iconic New Road ground despite concerns around flooding.
The club's CEO Ashley Giles has confirmed it in an open letter to fans after discovering finding a way of preventing the floods at New Road was neither feasible nor sustainable.
However, Mr Giles added that, unless further flooding happens between now and April 25, they will begin their season at New Road.
Last April, the club issued a statement outlining the serious challenges the 'unprecedented flooding' Worcester and the ground has faced which threatened its sustainability.
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Since then, chiefs at the club have engaged with experts as well as local and national agencies to explore every possible option.
Mr Giles said: "This work has focused on two key areas: first, what options exist to mitigate or prevent flooding at New Road, including potential redevelopment, and second, what alternatives may be available should we need to consider an additional venue to protect the club’s future.
"While our investigations into an additional venue remain ongoing, we continue to work closely with an internationally respected company to assess the critical questions of what, where, how, and when regarding seeking an additional venue for the Club, for use alongside Visit Worcestershire New Road.
"This would provide a necessary safeguard against the increasing operational and financial risks associated with flooding, ensuring that Worcestershire can continue to thrive."
Long-standing Worcestershire member and flood expert Andrew Thomas has provided detailed records dating back to 2002, and this has revealed flooding incidents have increased in both frequency and severity.
This, according to Mr Giles, made it almost inevitable for Visit Worcestershire New Road to experience multiple flood events each year.
Mr Giles added that 19 of the 30 worst floods recorded since 1899 have occurred within the last 25 years, with the situation continuing to deteriorate.
The statement added as New Road is designated a functional floodplain, redevelopment is subject to significant restrictions under local and national policies.
This means expert assessments indicate that all pitches require complete reconstruction, a process that could take up to a decade to finish.
Mr Giles added research has concluded engineering a solution to prevent flooding is neither feasible nor sustainable.
He added: "The outcome of these studies only reinforces the importance of securing an additional venue, ensuring that Worcestershire County Cricket Club can continue to deliver outstanding experiences in live sport, hospitality, and entertainment for many years to come.
"While Visit Worcestershire New Road remains central to our identity, it is essential that we have a sustainable, long-term solution to protect the club’s future."
