FYI - There is an attachment at the bottom of the page for FAQs

To donate to our clubhouse refurbishment, we have a Just Giving account.   100% of your donation will go towards the refurbishment.  The Please Gift Aid your donation provided you meet the criteria.

Last Updated November 2024 .

The outcome of the EGM on Friday 11th October was a unanimous vote in favour of the refurbishment plans drawn up by Peter Liddell.

Peter Liddell has subsequently submitted an application for Planning Permission to Mid Sussex District Council.   The application reference no is DM/24/2673 and may be viewed here.  

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We are excited to be able to share with you our proposals to improve our facilities.   We hope you like the improvements we are proposing and will wholehartedly support us through the journey we are about to embark on.   We will continue to update these pages as the plans evolve.

You may have noticed that over the earlier this year we opened up the clubhouse by removing the dividing partition, changed the lighting and given the whole place a coat of paint.   What a change!   But this is just the start.

So what else has been going on?

1. We have presented our proposals to Cuckfield Parish Council and are also in dialogue with the Mid Sussex Councilors representing Cuckfield.
2. We have applied for grants from the Gatwick Airport Community Fund and the Gatwick Foundation Fund.
3. We have submitted a S106 grant application to Mid Sussex Council.
4. We have set up a Just Giving account for donations to the clubhouse refurbishment.
5. We have appointed an Architect to prepared more detailed plans which will be submitted for planning approval.
6. We have annoiunced an Extraordinary General Meeting inviting all members to discuss and vote on our plans.

So why are we considering refurbishing the clubhouse?   Your committee believe the clubhouse is no longer fit for purpose, we have substantially changed how we use the space since it was built and it is time to update it.   Specifically:

• The wooden panelling in the clubhouse dates from the original build in the early 1970’s.   We carried out a condition survey during 2022 which suggested replacing this panelling and taking the opportunity to install a vapour barier and better insulation into the void.
• The condition survey identified the hardboard ceilings of the clubhouse as being of flimsy construction and recommended replacement including the fitting of insulation into the ceiling void.
• The clubhouse is cold in winter and hot in summer.   Whilst the structure is of a type that means no solution will ever be close to perfect, there are some things we are able to do to improve the situation, most notably the recommendations to replace the wall and ceiling panelling including fitting a vapour control barrier and insulation, as described above.   We have recently fitted a solar reflective film to the windows which will help in the summer.
• We are desperately short of storage space, using the main clubhouse to store chairs, the men’s changing room for Patrick’s coaching equipment and the ladies changing room for the ball machine.
• The toilets in both the gents and ladies are reaching the end of their useful lives.   The water heater in the gents no longer works, the cold water tap has corroded and is no longer securely fixed to the sink.   The ladies water heater has developed a small leak.
• There are no fixed heaters to heat the clubhouse space, we rely on the two portable radiant heaters.   As we all know, these are not terribly effective.
• The existing tubular heaters which we use for frost and damp protection have no physical protection to stop combustible material touching the surface.   This is a fire risk and needs changing.
• The kitchen units in the clubhouse are reaching the end of their useful life.
• The double patio door to the clubhouse has been secured closed for many years.   This door is of a design which, if it were to become usable, would make the clubhouse insecure (because the opening panel, being on the outside could simply be lifted off by an intruder).

Below are some drawings of how how the clubhouse and its facilities might look.   These are the plans we propose to take forward to planning.

With thanks to Peter Brinsley for his artistic skills, he has drawn some sketches of how the improvements to the clubhouse might look.

It will take a while to read and digest everything which is included here, but we wanted to lay out the information in as much detail as we are able.   Please feel free to ask further questions on any of these topics as well as any others at the meeting, or privately by speaking to one of the Committee or sending an email to chair@cuckfieldtennisclub.org.uk.   Remember, there is no right or wrong answer and by asking a question you are helping to ensure that we think of everything.

What we are proposing is based on a scope of work we consider reasonable, affordable and is realistic.

We do have some specific question where we need your views and these relate to the changing rooms, storage and toilets, all of which are explained in the attached FAQ document.

And finally, we are seeking the assistance of any members who are familiar with the building industry, construction, the regulations etc.   If you think you might be able to assist in any way (large or small) then please speak to a committee member or send an email to chair@cuckfieldtennisclub.org.uk.

Set out in the rest of this page are two documents which have been prepared to provide background information and answer some of the more obvious questions,

FAQ Information document. - Click here to open