Questions raised about campus tennis courts

CONCERN has been raised about plans for the future management and maintenance of the new tennis courts at Melksham House.

The two new courts, which are part of the ongoing redevelopment for the community campus on the Melksham House site, are expected to be managed by Melksham Tennis Club.

But one former member says that hopes for affordable tennis, easy access for the community, more people playing tennis, wheelchair access and school access are all at risk.

The club will be given the lease for the courts by Wiltshire Council – but an agreement has yet to be signed.

At this month’s Melksham Area Board meeting, questions were asked about how the public would be allowed to access the courts, with one former club committee member disclosing that the club is considering charging £10 to £15 for one hour of play.

There was also debate about how the club would be able to afford the long-term maintenance of the courts, with a small number of members generating a low-income for the club. 

Discussing the design and access statement that was provided to support the planning application for the tennis courts last year, the former tennis club committee member said, “The document says that in July last year we had 100 adult members and 50 junior members. In fact, last year we had between 14 and 18 members, bringing in less than £1,000.

“To maintain the new courts we need a sink fund of £1,800 per year, per court. That’s £3,600 a year. The members that we have at the moment, there are only five who are under 70-years old. On the committee there isn’t a member who is under 70 – so they’re not too worried about looking after the courts.

“When we’ve had a year as a tennis club to plan for these new courts – and we’ve promised affordable tennis, easy access for the community, more people playing tennis, wheelchair access, school access – why now, a month after those courts have been finished and a few days before they are completely finished, is there nothing in place?”

Another former tennis club member said the tennis club had declined to pay 50% of the running costs of the cricket pavilion, located next to the courts, which means tennis court users will have no access to toilet facilities, and the club will have no water supply to clean the courts.

About public access to the courts, councillors Jonathon Seed and Jon Hubbard said that they were pushing for ‘fair public access’ to the courts and that there is a plan for a combination lock to be installed on one of  the access gates. Cllr Seed said, “The code to the combination lock will be changed regularly to a public access gate and there will be a booking form on the club website.”

But cllr Hubbard called for public access plans to be taken a stage further, proposing that the lease agreement with the club should have a clause requiring them to join the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and use the LTA website for online bookings – similar to that used for the tennis courts in Trowbridge Park, which cost £5 for 90 minutes of play.

Cllr Hubbard said, “If the tennis club is not willing to sign the lease on those terms, it may be necessary for the council to find someone else who is.”

Cllr Seed added, “Cllr Hubbard and I did discuss other options, which included running it from the Blue Pool for the forseeable future, and then handing it over in two years’ time to be run from the campus, which is actually the logical place for the bookings to be.

“Or possibly in the short term, the town council, but we have not approached the council formally.”

Melksham News approached both Melksham Tennis Club and Wiltshire Council about the concerns regarding public access, maintenance of the courts, and the club declining use of the cricket pavilion.

Wiltshire Council’s John Thomson, cabinet member for communities said, “We are talking with the tennis club about the best way to manage bookings in the future. The purpose of the new health and wellbeing centre will be for it to be accessible to the whole community, so booking the facilities on-site has to be reflective of that. 

“No final decision has been made and we will update the community as soon as possible.  In the interim then, anyone interested in using the courts, should contact the club secretary on 01225 704448 or melkshamtennis@talktalk.net.”

Melksham Tennis Club secretary, Eddy Watts added, “Nothing to add to it (Wiltshire Council’s comment).  We met the council yesterday (Friday 14th June)  and there was quite a lot for us to process from the meeting.  Our full committee will meet later next week.”