57 replies to this topic

[Rob A]

It’s time this had an airing on its own. For decades the tennis club on Knight’s Hill was a busy centre for not only tennis and squash, but social activities too. The club room and bar was the venue for many an anniversary or birthday celebration.

In the last few years the ageing Committee have taken the view that the Club is not sustainable despite their attempts to promote it. Consequently it has teamed with different developers to gain planning consent for redevelopment of the site from which full members may expect to make a nice profit. Plans so far have been for high rise housing with some sports provision. They have had particular difficulty with satisfying planning policy regarding the retention of open air sports facilities, as well as many other aspects. An appeal against the last refusal is currently in progress.

Numerous people have reported that their membership renewals have been declined; likewise new membership. A Committee member has described such people as ‘carpet-baggers’. It would be interesting to know more of the Club’s antecedents and constitution to be sure that the Committee is entitled to follow this course and profit personally.

I am told that currently it’s possible to book courts on a per session basis, but that it’s difficult due the courts often being unattended and locked. If anyone has more information about membership or booking courts, let’s hear it.

[casewick]

A friend around the corner in Wolfington, who represented her county at junior level, was told fifteen years ago by the people running the club that there was no call for her expertise.I suspect that this is not a new problem at all, but it does seem madness that such a facility cannot be widely used by local residents.

[kibitzer]

The tennis club facilities are/were used as a polling station by Lambeth Council as I was a polling clerk there in 1998 - the facilities were very good perhaps better than the ones that were used elsewhere. I am sorry to hear about this especially as tennis is one of the sports that- we are told that- the country as a whole-needs to up its game- when competing with other countries and produce more tennis stars to match the international competition. The local tennis club is where it all starts. Keep us posted once facilities like this go even if the plans include sporting ones we will never get them back. Perhaps when Wimbledon starts it might up the ante on publicising the issue for local people.

[inneedofmodernisation]

I wonder if they'd considered getting involved in the Feast? Be a good membership driver and with summer hopefully properly on the way what better reason to throw a Pimms and Tennis party to spike interest.

Totally agree that once these facilities are gone, they are gone for good. Be terrible to see this space become flats.

[toby1kenobi]

...

In the last few years the ageing Committee have taken the view that the Club is not sustainable despite their attempts to promote it. Consequently it has teamed with different developers to gain planning consent for redevelopment of the site from which full members may expect to make a nice profit. Plans so far have been for high rise housing with some sports provision. They have had particular difficulty with satisfying planning policy regarding the retention of open air sports facilities, as well as many other aspects. An appeal against the last refusal is currently in progress.

...

This is a real shame, very depressing. I've lived in Streatham for the last 9 years, and a few years ago tried to find out about the club with a view to playing squash there. I seem to remember I found it impossible to actually get hold of anyone, and eventually gave up. I'm curious to know what the committee's, "attempts to promote it" were - had I not walked/driven past it fairly regularly there's no way I'd have know about it.

Depressing to hear that they're turning away members on that basis, if true. I'm sure it would be straight forward (as has been the case with building societies) to take on new member who did not have the rights to benefit from any sale.

[belo]

Consequently it has teamed with different developers to gain planning consent for redevelopment of the site from which full members may expect to make a nice profit.

Mmmn. It sounds to me that the full members have no desire to keep this going. What can one do in this situation? It is a real shame.

I've lived in the area for 9 years and have never seem any promotion. I have ended up going to Norbury Park tennis club even though it is further from where I live. They actively promote themselves in this area and seen flyers to local schools. I've never seen anything as such from West Norwood.

Perhaps if a group of people keen to keep such a club get together and volunteer our services to the club to help promote them they may take us up on our offer?

[superal11]

I assume the members are worried that if the planners do get permission to build they won’t get their full “cut” if new members come in. I wonder if this was a condition of sale put in place by both parties?

One way around this is to accept new members on the proviso that as and when the courts are improved/demolished the memberships will be reviewed/ revoked.

The council (I hope) won’t pass these plans because they are ludicrous. This area should be reserved for PUBLIC recreation. If you want a private members club in order to maintain and improve the courts, so be it but it seems crazy to have all this great space just for the benefit of 8 middle aged selfish gits.

As I’ve said on previous threads I believe it’s just a case of a few old boys liking the status quo “just so” and sod the rest of the community. Not good enough. Those tennis courts belong to the people of West Norwood. If that means paying a yearly subscription then fine but who the hell gives them the right to decide? Four perfectly good tennis courts are sitting there on our doorstep and we can’t use them – why?
The Norwood FEAST is a perfect platform to build interest and sign new members up. Why don’t people just doorstep them on that day and every weekend for that matter? I’ll be up for it.

[Globex]

Sorry - I always seem to be asking for clarification on these things - something that I guess everyone already knows..


Who actually owns the tennis club and/or land? Is Lambeth in any way involved? If its a public facility then can these 8 middle aged gits really withold the benefit from the rest of the community?! But if its private land then I guess we can't really stop the tennis club from not allowing new members - can we?!

I would LOVE to be able to play tennis on courts that are only a short walk away and I very much doubt I'm in the minority. What about schools - there's heaps of 'em in West Norwood - wouldn't they want to use the courts during the day?

[Norwood lad]

This tennis club has never really been advertised to the local community in a good few decades so its no surprise it has little members.

All sounds a little dodgy at any rate. Members to get a cut of any new development yet doesn't seem to want to promote the club for new members as membership rates dwindle.
Anyone how has a commitment into saving the club could easily promote it in the area, tie it in with local schools etc.

Who exactly gets a cut? Any old members or committee members? Do they own the actual site or just pay membership fees? All sounds very intriguing. Can I join?

[superal11]

I must confess I don’t know the details but based on prior knowledge with similar members clubs I would assume the land was purchased from the WNTC by the property developer and its members divided the cash equally regardless of how long they had been members.

I also assume that part of the deal was that they could remain playing until the site was redeveloped as long as no new members were introduced.

What I don’t understand is this; if it isn’t owned by the players anymore how can they decide who can and cannot join? Surly I can just bowl up there and play? If they don’t like it they will call the police and have me removed for trespassing but surly they are guilty of the same crime? How can a members club exist if the members don’t own it?

The second possibility is that the members have agreed to sell the site once the developer has agreed planning permission with the council. Therefore if no new members can join the current members will get a fatter cheque.
In both instances I don’t understand how they can do this.

Scenario 1 means they are just pretending to be exclusive members and have as much right to be there as the rest of us. Only difference is they have the keys!

Scenario 2 doesn’t add up because how can someone request planning permission if they don’t own the site?
All very fishy – can our local councillors take up the case, please?

[James]

Scenario 2 doesn’t add up because how can someone request planning permission if they don’t own the site?

You don't need to own a property to request planning permission. I could put in a planning application to build an extension onto your house if I wanted to. And you don't even need permission to knock something down unless it has a protected status. So they may just clear the land and wait it out.

In my opinion, based on the botched handling of the planning application for the storage company development across the road, I don't have much faith in Lambeth Council delivering a decent outcome for the community.

It will probably require local action groups and press coverage to turn this site back into a community resource.

[superal11]

Thanks James, I honestly had no idea about the planning regs. Oh, and leave my back passage alone!
I think the local councillors need to get on board this ship – it could provide a hugely useful service to the WHOLE community.

Edited by superal11, 24 May 2011 - 01:31 PM.

[Bosie]

I would definitely use the tennis club if I were allowed to join. I currently play at Brockwell Park or Bel Air Park but this would be closer to me. Do we know when there are ever people there? Maybe we should all rock up at the same time, in our tennis whites, rackets in hand and demand we are given membership. We would have a nice photo-opportunity, which we could use as evidence that there is in fact a demand for membership at the club, which will no doubt be the excuse used in any planning application.

[John F]

I would definitely use the tennis club if I were allowed to join. I currently play at Brockwell Park or Bel Air Park but this would be closer to me. Do we know when there are ever people there? Maybe we should all rock up at the same time, in our tennis whites, rackets in hand and demand we are given membership. We would have a nice photo-opportunity, which we could use as evidence that there is in fact a demand for membership at the club, which will no doubt be the excuse used in any planning application.

surely they must have some regulation binding upon them as a club?

"The term club is not a legal term per se, but a group that organizes itself as a club must comply with any laws governing its organization and otherwise be cognizant of the legal ramifications in undertaking to organize itself in this manner."

I agree with Bosie - turn up en masse rackets & balls at the ready (god help us if we have to play any tennis though!)

[sunray]

Why not just do a search on land registry...You will find out who owns it.

Not letting new members join might be against their constitution.

surely they must have some regulation binding upon them as a club?

"The term club is not a legal term per se, but a group that organizes itself as a club must comply with any laws governing its organization and otherwise be cognizant of the legal ramifications in undertaking to organize itself in this manner."

I agree with Bosie - turn up en masse rackets & balls at the ready (god help us if we have to play any tennis though!)