Court updates 13_03_17
We are seeking to fund 3 new courts, new fencing, tree removal, floodlighting, provision of a new 3 phase electricity supply and professional fees for project management etc. Estimates for the above have been received from 2 main contractors giving us a total funding requirement of nearly £200K.
To enable us to fund the above we require - £100K from Sport Scotland, £49K from LTA/Tennis Scotland (grant and loan), £50K from “local sources”. (We need to provide 25% of the project costs from local sources to meet Sport Scotland funding criteria.) Currently the local sources money is in place from Landfill, Peebles Community Council, Scottish Borders Council, plus club funds and possibly £5K from LIVE Borders (awaiting a response to a recent application).
It has taken us a year of preparation for the above funding applications and, apart from individual application forms for each funding body, we have had to prepare business plans, financial accounts, tennis development plans, tennis programmes etc., etc. Planning approval was also submitted and after 2 months consultation we are pleased to say that planning approval is now in place.
Following the addition of new information from the main funding body Sport Scotland, we were promised a decision by the end of February; however, we have now been told that we should have a decision by the end of March. As you may have seen in the Press, Sport Scotland has had their funding reduced by some 20% and The National Lottery (their main source of money) report ticket sales are down. We have been advised that it was extremely doubtful that we would receive £100K, in view of the above problems, and indeed by asking for £100k we were risking the possibility that we may receive no money or a very much reduced award. In view of this, the Committee agreed to reduce our request to £50K and the feedback is that we should have a good chance of receiving this award. We believe that LTA and Tennis Scotland are awaiting the Sport Scotland decision before confirming their award of £49K.
There has also been feedback from the Sport Scotland and the LTA suggesting that they would not fund the “luxury” of an artificial clay surface and they may only finance tarmacadam courts. (Artificial Clay will cost about £40K)! However Tennis Scotland feels that the Artificial Clay is something the club should try to achieve and they are keen to see this surface in the Borders.
In view of all of the above, the Committee have decided to put forward the following plan: We will break the project into two phases. Phase one to be implemented Sept. /Oct. will be to finance £150K giving us 3 tarmacadam courts, a new floodlighting system, plus the other works as detailed above. Now, it is important to remember that tarmacadam courts are the BASE for the final artificial clay surface and this work needs to be carried out anyway as part of the overall project. This gives us 5 tarmacadam courts with lighting over the 2017/18 winter period. The 3 front courts will have top quality lighting.
Phase two will be to upgrade the 3 new tarmacadam courts to an artificial clay surface in early spring 2018. As soon as phase one is completed, we will start new fund raising (from non-tennis sources) probably from Landfill and other possible funding bodies. There are numerous funding bodies to apply to once we know how much funding we require.
A question was, apparently, raised saying why do we not carry out the whole project in “one go” next spring? Firstly, we don’t think that the bodies that have promised funds and allocated money from their financial resources would be prepared to “hold on” to the money until 2018. Secondly as all the work in phase one will have to be carried our regardless, it will surely be of great benefit to have new courts and floodlighting from the autumn!
We are also planning to try to fund a new disabled access facility which would also involve extending the present “veranda” to double the width and, if funding is obtained, to upgrade toilet facilities etc. This project will not affect the main courts project as we would be approaching charity trusts/Foundations etc. several of whom give to projects involving disability facilities etc.
We hope this gives everyone a comprehensive overview of the projects, however, if you have any queries /questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gordon Russell at the email address below or speak to any of the Committee members.
Regards
Gordon Russell for PLTC
gordon@gordonrussell.net