INTRODUCTION
Almscliffe Tennis and Bowling Club (ATBC), founded in 1913, is the only active sports club in three neighbouring villages catering for a full cross-section of our community from toddler to grandparent. Although ATBC is situated in a rural area, our postcode data shows that, while 50% of our Club members total members:c180 are drawn from the immediate area, Club users are widespread and are prepared to drive generally up to 5 miles to use the facilities. Thus 20% of members/club users come from Southern Harrogate and its villages, 14% from south and west of the Club (eg Otley, Arthington, Pool in Wharfedale), with the remaining 16% coming from eight postcode areas further afield from the Club premises.
The local school has approximately 100 pupils and there are further junior schools in Pannal, Kirby Overblow, Pool in Wharfedale as well as several in Otley. Although there are other tennis Clubs in Pool and Otley, the market is sufficiently large to support all three clubs, and we are able to attract members and juniors to play at Almscliffe from these areas.
The population of the surrounding villages totals approximately 2,500 (Huby, Weeton, North Rigton, Castley, Newby). The population of Southern Harrogate and its villages is about 39,000 (2011 census); that of LS21 (south and west of the Club) is about 18,000 (2011 census). Based on the analysis of data for the Southern Harrogate and village wards (www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-wards-yorkshireandthehumber.), it is estimated that the age of the population is comprised of approximately:
Villages S Harrogate and LS21
0-17 500 12,600
18-64 1,475 30,500
65+ 525 13,900
Over 90 people attended our recent open day, resulting in 10 new adult members and 5 new juniors.
We run seven crown green bowling teams, playing in the Harrogate leagues and two in the Tadcaster league, and four tennis teams – two mixed teams in the Harrogate league and two ladies teams playing in the Leeds league. In addition, we offer a full coaching programme for adults and juniors, including welcoming junior non-members both to our coaching programme, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) sponsored Tennis for Kids programmes and holiday camps.
OUR PROJECT
ATBC is seeking planning consent for the development of one new all-weather tennis court, suitable as a community multi-sports area including Pay and Play facilities, a further standard court the same size as the existing courts and the erection of LED floodlights on the new court and our two existing courts.
We currently own two courts and have access to a leased court. However, the lease expires at the end of 2019 and the court is in need of replacement. We have considered a number of options, including whether we need three courts. However, our tennis membership of about 140 supports the need for three courts, (LTA guidelines indicate that for non-floodlit courts, an appropriate ratio of members to courts is 40:1). In addition, in order to continue offering competitive tennis in the Harrogate league, which attracts many people to join our Club, it is imperative that we have three courts now with space available in the future for the fourth court as shown. We estimate that each of our courts is playable for about 2,245 hours per annum. Lawn Tennis Association (‘LTA’) estimates indicate that laying down an all-weather surface and introducing floodlights will extend the playing time to about 3,500 hours per annum per court – an increase of 56%.
The benefits to our community are:
Ø Wider access by making the new court available for other recreational use eg 5 a side football and introducing Pay and Play tennis
Ø Afford more opportunity for family and inter-generational sport
Ø Encourage more youngsters to be active by providing a safe and easily accessible space
Ø Ensure the continuation of the only active sports Club in the villages for future generations
Ø Additional all-weather courts available allowing more people to play
Ø Floodlights providing evening play opportunities for workers/commuters
Ø 88% increase in coaching capacity
Ø 56% more playing time
Ø Attractive, vibrant club offering a range of competitive and social tennis to members
Ø Facility improvements will meet expectations of future users ensuring on-going viability of club
SUPPORT FOR PROJECT
We have kept Weeton & Huby and North Rigton Parish Councils, North Rigton Primary School and Almscliffe Hall up to date with the vision, scope and objectives of our project. Informal support has been encouraging.
We have been invited by the LTA to be a part of their initiative, Transforming British Tennis Together, which focuses on:
Ø Doubling the number of children playing tennis
Ø Doubling the number of times infrequent adults play tennis
by creating more covered and floodlit courts.
We are therefore working closely with the LTA on our project and also have the support of Yorkshire Tennis.
Our Club Committee and members have voted in favour of the project and fundraising events have been well supported.
NEW COURT LOCATION
We have taken advice from LTA approved court builders, architects and landscape architects regarding the siting of the court on our land. To make best use of the land, we need to remove a damaged oak tree and a self-seeded ash tree. Currently these trees are subject to a blanket tree preservation order. In the event these trees cannot be removed the new court will be sited further from the boundary to protect the root area, reducing the land for community use and removing the option to provide the fourth court on the land in the future, leaving an unusable strip of land behind the court. Having consulted with Harrogate Borough Council, we will be requesting the removal of these trees as part of our planning application while committing to plant four replacement trees, guaranteeing succession planning of the landscape and enabling us to maximise use of the land for the ongoing benefit of the local community as well as the Club and safeguarding its use for future developments.