Q. What's happening with the lighting and when will we
have floodlights?
The smaller movable floodlights the club had hoped to install last year weren't
suitable. The lights aren't strong enough to play a match, they would be fine for
practising but not good for playing games, so we have discounted them.
We currently have planning permission for telescopic lights but not for fixed
lights. Installing telescopic lighting on the three Tiger Turf courts would cost
approx £100,000, alternatively installing fixed lighting would cost a more
manageable £30,000 £40,000. Currently both the LTA and SportEngland are
giving grants for tennis clubs for improving their facilities including installing
lighting. However to qualify for a grant, our club needs to have a long term
lease in place. We are currently renegotiating our lease which expires in 2016
and hope to have that finalised this autumn.
So this year, we will apply for planning permission for fixed flood lighting, we
will renegotiate our lease, and then we will apply for any grants available to
fund or partially fund the lighting.
Realistically this means the club won't have lighting this year, however I think,
with quite a lot of luck, we might be in a position to install lighting next year.
Hi, I'm Ailsa Williams and I
replaced Neil Ross as chairman
of the club on 5th March. It's
been an two months, I've been
getting to grips with the club and
how it is run and we've been
trying to put a program of tennis
and social events together for
the year. Below are a list of the
most common questions I've
been asked so far