Fred, the pipes that you got installed under the Brunton Park stadium pitch have thus far not been used. We know that the cost of buying sufficient boiler capacity was prohibitive at the time.

It could be that now the pipes are not in good condition. We know that it is possible to test pipes without having to actually unearth them, there is a piece of technology that can easily do it. Presumably one of your group of companies that builds entire housing estates has such a device that can be used to test the ongoing viability of the Brunton Park pipes.

In the event of the pipes being sound then it will be quite literally 'game on'. When there is a forecast of sub-zero temperatures in the 24 hours prior to a match the club can hire an appropriate boiler. We know of such companies, indeed there is one such company with a depot in Penrith.

So Fred, can you do the club a favour by someone from one of your companies testing the pipes that you installed? In the event of there being no substantial problems discovered can you advise about boiler hire? On the first occasion of such need maybe one of your companies could temporarily supply a boiler just to establish this solution to the problem of sub-zero temperatures causing match postponements.