IN 2010, Essex will call Southend home.

Well, one of three temporary homes to be exact, but home nonetheless while the county’s permanent headquarters at Chelmsford undergoes a multi-million pound renovation.

For that reason alone, the Essex AutoGroup Southend Cricket Festival at Garon Park takes on even greater meaning this summer.

And Festival committee chairman Peter Butler knows that all eyes will be on the seaside when Essex arrive in town next Wednesday morning for an LV County Championship clash with Glamorgan and NatWest Pro40 showdown against Northants.

“The current plan for 2010 is that the fixtures will be shared between Billericay, Colchester and Southend and that Garon hosting the middle of the season,” said Butler.

“That probably means that most of the Twenty20 cricket would be played here and it would be terrific to see 10,000 people attending a game in Southend.

“We’ve certainly got the scope to hold such an event – we’ve got masses of space and have one of the biggest car parks of any county cricket ground anywhere in the country. It will be very special.”

Butler and his 11-strong committee work tirelessly to raise the £80,000 needed to host the festival.

And, with such investment needed, the chairman is acutely aware of how important it is to attract capacity crowds to Garon Park for all five days of the Festival.

“A huge amount of work goes into the Festival and without the committee and the sponsorship we gratefully receive, it just wouldn’t happen,” he said.

“Every year, we have to raise between £70,000 and £80,000 and we have to take that just to break even over the week.

“That’s why it is important that we have as many facilities as possible at Garon Park.”

Among those facilities are three new outdoor nets, which have been paid for by £30,000 in funding from the Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) and Norman Garon Trust.

And Butler is understandably proud of the improvements made at Garon for 2008.

“Southend has got a great tradition for county cricket,” he added.

“The town has played host to Essex since 1906 and Garon Park is the third ground we’ve come to (after Southchurch Park and Chalkwell Park).

“Those who come to play and visit this year will notice that we've made a huge number of improvements.

“We’ve installed permanent boundary fencing and security fencing and, for the first time ever, there will be permanent outdoor nets for the cricketers.”

l FOR full details about the festival, log on to www.southendcricketfestival.org.uk