Tennis club facts are completely inaccurate (From Warrington Guardian)

Tennis club facts are completely inaccurate

12:50pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in Letters

I WISH to respond to a letter published in the Guardian, July 26, entitled ‘Anyone for tennis? At this price, no thanks’. I was astonished by the lack of research put into this letter.

The author believes the tennis courts are not in the best shape. This is difficult to fathom as in the past few seasons more than £1,000 has been spent on rejuvenating all six courts to a point where they now play better than ever before. In fact teams from other clubs pay to use the courts for matches.

Apparently the author has been a member of the club for years but this year the prices are too much for them. This is somewhat strange as the club has held a policy of fixing membership prices with only inflation rises. As for the claim of a £50 fee for half a year, as a supposed member surely the author would be aware of the pricing structure? Apparently not. The maximum half-year fee is £40 for adult members with a significant reduction for students and juniors. All members are issued with their card and the lock code sequence, so again the writers are incorrect in stating that not all members know the code. Prices have not risen significantly in the past five years. The courts are open at all times to members and non-members at peak times when members are present. The club is run by volunteers and receives no government funding.

It is not a right of the club to provide non-members with tennis, however it tries its best to allow them to play.

The original letter states the season starts in summer. The club actually opens and fully begins at Easter. In fact we are now more than halfway through the season, hence the reduced membership rates.

The club is always open to new ideas and members and is continually aiming to improve. This has been underlined by new tennis skills sessions which have run every Saturday morning since the club opened. Priced at £2 per member and £3.50 for non-members this is hardly expensive, especially compared to other clubs and centres.

Perhaps if the authors now know the facts and are interested, they may wish to attend.

JANET CLIFFE, Honorary treasurer, Padgate Tennis and Bowling Club