It’s love all in row over tennis club (From Bucks Free Press)

It’s love all in row over tennis club

11:22am Monday 22nd August 2005 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A SPORTING attitude prevailed at what was expected to be a confrontational meeting to discuss plans to disband Bisham Abbey Tennis Club.

The club, which is run by its members, has used the facilities at Bisham Abbey Sports Centre for more than quarter of a century. In July, it was told by the sports centre that it must "disband immediately" to make way for a more "professionally-run" club, which the sports centre would manage.

Representatives from the sports centre and around 30 per cent of the club's 100 strong members attended an extraordinary general meeting, held in Bisham on Tuesday night. Both sides agreed the meeting went relatively smoothly although no agreement was formally reached and nothing new emerged.

The sports centre said it was still intent on running its own tennis club and charging members more to use the facilities. The tennis club said it was still opposed to the centre almost doubling membership fees from £240 per year to £420 per year. It argued that the dramatic hike in fees was at odds with the sports centre's apparent desire to increase community involvement in sport.

Club chairman Norman Bhargava said: "It was a useful meeting to share our views.

"I am optimistic we can come to a solution that will keep everyone happy. I have worked with Sport England for seven years and I have always found it to be a very productive relationship.

"I am now looking forward to working with them and the sports centre to come to an agreement acceptable to our members."

Meanwhile, a sports centre spokesman said: "We agree with Norman that it was a very useful meeting and we are also looking forward to working with the club to reach an agreement."

A series of private meetings between the sports centre and the club are scheduled for September.