KING’S Road have helped scoop a £125,000 grant to spruce up a South London common’s rundown cricket facilities.

The South London club mobilised its player power last month to deluge Lambeth Council with votes in favour of revamping Streatham Common.

Council bosses had held a public vote allowing residents of the borough to decide how it spends a pot of £250,000 earmarked for community projects.

Twelve projects – including Streatham Common – were in the running to be awarded three prizes of £125,000, £75,000 and £50,000.

But the plan to revamp cricket and football on the site opposite Streatham High Road came out on top after sustained pressure from the Orange Caps.

The Common’s cricket square is currently in a very poor state and needs repairs before it can attract club’s like King’s Road to play there.

Streatham resident Leon Watson said: “We’re overjoyed the Common has got this cash and finally, after so many years, the cricket facilities are going to get a revamp.

“At the moment it is completely unplayable on, there’s just a gravelly patch where there used to be an artificial cricket square.

“It can’t be used for cricket or anything else – it is just a blot on the landscape. But next summer you should see people playing cricket there instead. Awesome.”

Local Councillor Mark Bennett told King’s Road the project had won a day before the official announcement.

Speaking on micro-blogging site Twitter, he said: “Pleased Streatham Common – in my ward – won £125k in residents’ vote. Drainage can commence, football, cricket can be played.”

King’s Road replied: “Great news Mark!”

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