Club News

Coronavirus

Following on from the PM’s address on Sunday we have received several queries about when the club and courts will be re-open. The LTA press releases state the following: 

we are continuing to work with the Government on the relevant clarifications required to ensure further advice is provided to the tennis community as soon as possible and in advance of Wednesday May 13 when tennis will be playable between members of the same household’ 10 May 2020

‘tennis activity in England will be able to take place outdoors from Wednesday 12 May with singles play only, other than where players are from the same household in which case they can play doubles’ 11 May 2020

So if you want to start playing again you will need to:

• book a court using the Clubspark system
• this enables you to book for one hour a week
• the system records the name of the member booking the court
• courts 1,3,4 and 6 only will be available
• make sure that you wipe down the net handle after use
• observe the 2 metre social distancing rules where possible
• All players must read the LTA guidance on safe tennis by following this link or copy and pasting into google

CONGRATULATIONS

Our Head Coach, Dave Sanger was awarded the County LTA Award in November for his extraordinary contribution to Disability Tennis opening the sport up to enable more people to take part.
We are delighted to announce that he has also now won the Regional LTA Award in recogntion of his continuing commitment to, not only running our major weekly programme of specialist provision, but also successfully and almost single handedly, raising the necessary funds to do so.

He will now go through to the National Final with the winners being presented with their prize during Wimbledon. Sadly though , as you will all be aware, this has been cancelled this year due to Covid19.

THANK YOU

Firstly to you, our members, for supporting our decision to close the courts. We considered this very carefully and took advice from the LTA prior to deciding to do so . We felt that it was essential that we contributed to the national effort to stem the flow of the virus.

We fully appreciate the frustration that this has caused us all, especially given the almost perfect weather conditions following those weeks of downpours and flooded courts.

Please be assured that just as soon as we are advised that we can reopen we will keep you informed but in the meantime please continue to keep your distance, your racquet in its cover and your balls dry!

Secondly I want to publicly thank the Committee members, past and present, for their ongoing commitment and energy in ensuring that apart from playing tennis we keep the ball rolling………

A big shout out to:

Peter Richardson for mowing the grass
Celia Barron for regularly visiting the site to check that everything is ok
Colin Gilbey for chasing potential suppliers and installers of floodlighting
Dan Light for making a successful application to BPC for a Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant along with thoroughly reviewing our insurance policy

COMMITTEE NEWS

We are about to experience our first virtual Committee meeting via Zoom on Monday. Amongst the issues we expect to discuss will be:

– membership fees for the coming year
– how to raise enough money to replace the floodlights
– should we pay someone to undertake the role of Club and Grounds Maintainence Co-ordinator.
– replacement of our current cleaner
– identifying a volunteer to take on the role of Social Secretary

All members please read, note and act accordingly

I am sorry to inform you that I need to reiterate that the club clubhouse and courts are not to be used by anybody from now onwards.

NO ONE should be using them. Please can all of you make sure that any member with whom you come into contact is aware of this. If they ask you to play, to hit, or to part of a fixed four etc please say no.

I have had a number of complaints and concerns raised both by members and our neighbours that people are still playing. One of them saw someone come out of the clubhouse this morning!

They have even suggested that we remove the nets but from the discussions that I have had with the Head Coach this is no easy task especially as they have not been removed for several years. So we will have to continue to rely on people being sensible and taking this seriously.

We must take account of the Government Guidelines

Stay home Protect the NHS Save lives

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Chairpersons Update March 2020
Coronavirus Alert

Club is closed until further notice.

Following on from the emails that you have already received and the notices displayed around the club, the Committee and I are now giving all members ,friends and guests formal notice that the club is closed until further notice.

We have also closed down the Clubspark booking system and are intending to change the entry system to the main door to ensure your safety at this very difficult time. As a registered LTA venue we are following their advice and using their regular updates to inform our decisions.

We are aware that fresh air and exercise are vital to our health and well being and that some of you may choose to use the courts . Should you do so you should be aware of the club insurance policy which is the standard Public and Employers Liability policy recommended by the LTA and administered through Hiscox Insurance on their behalf . The important section to note is as follows:

• All individuals who take part ,either as administrators,coaches or participants have a Duty of Care to ensure that they do not cause injury or financial loss to anyone or damage to anyones’ property.
• In addition to this if you do decide to carry on playing be advised of the following:
  • courts are only available on a first come, first served (pun intended) basis
  • you must provide your own tennis balls
  • the clubhouse is closed so there is no access to the kitchen,toilets or showers
  • wash your hands before and after playing, without exception, using hand gel
  • only use your own racquet
  • clean and wipe down the equipment including racquets, benches,n et handles

In the meantime the Committee and I are continuing to carry on with ensuring that when play can recommence the club will be ready for you. Work in progress includes replacing the clubhouse lights with LEDs to reduce the electricity bills, cleaning the carpet which is showing signs of wear and tear, repairing/replacing the clubhouse back door leading onto courts 1-3, finalising the new lease arrangements with BPC Council and getting our heads around our revised responsibilities as Charity Trustees.

The end of year accounts are in the process of being completed and we continue to actively review how we can ensure our ongoing financial health so that we can look ahead with confidence in our future.

Thank you for your understanding as together we face the challenges of the present and future. Stay well, fit and positive and we look forward very much to seeing you all on court as soon as possible.