As reported at the end of July, a scheme was made available for members to pay membership subscription fees early for the next one or two years.  The hope was that sufficient funds could be raised through this scheme to allow Court 2 to be re-coated, Court 3 having been completed earlier in the year.

 

However, when the court maintenance specialist, Barry Hobson, visited our facilities he was very concerned about leaving Court 1 to the ravages of another winter without fresh protection.  If the surface were to break up it would need to be re-laid, which would cost in the region of £10,000 per court!

 

£500 donation from Redrow

 

As was also reported in July, the club received a £500 donation from housebuilders Redrow, and the hope was that these funds could be used to finally level the clubhouse floor and lay a laminate wood floor covering, with the intention that access to clubhouse keys could be made available to the wider membership.  However the possibility that we could lose our playing surface led the club's management committee to re-evaluate the use of these funds - the court surfaces are obviously more important than the clubhouse.

 

And the committee are also making enquiries into a suggestion that there may be some outstanding Building Regulation paperwork in relation to the clubhouse, which provides another reason to suspend further clubhouse work at this time.