A MAJOR drainage project being carried out on land at Tavistock College this summer could mean the nightmare of flooded sports pitches could soon become a thing of the past. Devon County Council is spending £120,000 on installing new pipework in the grounds, which regularly become unusable by students during periods of wet weather. A spokesman for Devon County Council said: ?The pipes are to upgrade the storm water pipes serving most of the school buildings. The current pipes are undersized and frequently overflow over the fields, making them unusable. ?This £120,000 scheme is designed to prevent that from happening and allow more use of the fields by the college.? Alex Wood, chairman of governors at Tavistock College, said he was delighted that ?after a lot of hard work?, the county had agreed to undertake the drainage project at the same time as the college?s new international centre was being built. ?The contractors will be taking away around 300 cubic metres of earth from the playing fields in huge lorry loads,? said Mr Wood. ?The idea is the earth from there and the earth from the new building will be removed at the same time ? it?s all contaminated earth thanks to old mine workings from the 19th century and can?t be used for top soil, so it has to be taken away to a specialist waste site. ?It?s a major piece of work but hopefully it will go a long way to solving the problems on the fields, so they can be brought back into proper use for the school ? and for the community. It?s part of a long term strategy for getting the college more involved in the community,? he said. Mr Wood said he was ?very pleased? the investment was being made in Tavistock College and said it provided a marker that the county had confidence in the school as a flagship for Devon. Meanwhile, the new £2.5-million international centre is nearing completion and will be ready for full occupancy in the coming term. The centre will provide state-of-the-art teaching equipment and new facilities for students and staff. ?We?ve just spent £35,000 on the new drama studios ? and the new sixth form study room has to be the best room in the whole college,? said Mr Wood. ?The students are the most important part of the college and giving them this room makes that message quite clear.? Tavistock College?s new principal, Colin Eves, is due to start at the school in September. Mr Wood said Mr Eves had been working ?very closely? with the college and with acting principal Chris Powell during the last half term. ?He?s certainly not having a cold start in September ? there are lots of things to be done and it?s very good he is already actively involved in the college ? altogether, it?s proving a very exciting year,? said Mr Wood.