Oakley Community Tennis Club Proposal

Oakley Community Tennis Club Proposal We would like to bring you a proposal from the recently formed Oakley Community Tennis club. Following the Oakley Playing field Survey and Survey Group Open meeting (a copy of the survey results is attached and summarized in s106 monies application form) it has been demonstrated that there is a large amount of support within the village for Tennis Courts to be built. Oakley Community Tennis Club has therefore been formed and sought quotes and further information to this purpose. Based on this information the estimated overall cost of building two tennis courts on Oakley Playing field would be in the region of £96,000 including VAT. This cost would be made up of £56,000 plus VAT for two courts, £12,000 plus VAT for fencing and gates,          £ 10,000 plus VAT for spoil removal, cleaning and maintenance equipment of £1,680 and nets (£600 plus VAT). Once constructed, the LTA advises that the maintenance and cleaning costs for two macadam tennis courts are approximately £3,000 per annum. These costs would be funded by club membership fees which, in order to encourage the widest community participation possible, will be kept to the minimum level necessary to cover the maintenance costs of the courts and operation of the club. Our proposed location (see attached plan)would be behind Oakley C of E Combined School and we have a letter from the school supporting this location. Under our proposals, the school would have use of the tennis courts at agreed times during the week in return for a proportionate contribution towards the maintenance costs. This location means that we can easily access storage facilities from a refurbished Scout hut (we have written to Oakley 1st Scout Group requesting storage) and benefit from existing lighting and pathways. Tennis court providers have indicated that to increase the longevity of court surface, courts would need to be accessed via a formed path so as not to transfer mud/grass and so forth onto the court surface. So as not to impact parking on local roads, we believe the proposed location (accessible via Village Hall carpark and existing pathways) to be optimal. We anticipate booking the Village Hall during any tournaments and events to allow us to provide refreshments and facilities. We have talked to every householder bordering the Playing fields in Mill Road, Meadow Close, Worminghall Road (numbers 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) to ensure consultation and support for our proposal from those residents that it might directly impact. All households support our proposed location. We would therefore like to apply to the Parish Council for the £47,O00 funding which will arise from the proposed development adjacent to Elmwood close and Worminghall Road (in the event planning permission for that development is granted) with the additional funding being sought from sources such as Sport England, LTA and AVDC Community Chest Grants plus fundraising initiatives if required.

Thank you for your consideration.