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Pocklington Tennis Club benefits from Commuted Sums

Date
Mon, 29 Jun 2020
Article

Pocklington Tennis Club has benefited from Commuted Sums from local housing developments, awarded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Pocklington Tennis Club has been on its present site at West Green, on the outskirts of Pocklington, bordering Pocklington School, since 1921. It has a great history with some fine tennis being played over the years, starting with wooden racquets and changing to steel, aluminium to its present day of carbon fibre composition. The Tennis Club's courts have followed a similar line, moving from grass to grass and tarmac and onto tarmac before moving to 'astroturf'. The Club have six courts which are artificial grass filled with fine sand to allow water to pass through, making them playable all of the year round in any weather.

The Tennis Club is run entirely by volunteers putting their own time into the running of the Club. In 2013 a new committee was formed around Chairman Chris French, with each member having a specific role. The committee has grown into an incredibly strong and versatile team.

The Committee put together a plan to move the Club forward and upgrade the facilities and enable it to be used by the whole community. They began by self-funding a new clubhouse, replacing their old portakabin on the same footprint which had become not fit for purpose.

With excellent support and funding from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the LTA, Yorkshire Tennis, Pocklington Town Council and its sponsors, the Club have finished this phase of their development.

They have provided :

Floodlights on four courts                                                                                                        Electricity to the Site
New exterior fencing
Improvements to court fencing
Security gate with key pad entry through online booking system
Clubhouse extension including disabled facilities and access
New pathways
Decking improvements
Courts rejuvenated
Car park improved.

As well as the improvements to their facilities, the Club have made changes in their coaching programme with the appointment of LTA registered coach, Sean Evans. Together with a new volunteer role to provide modern and up to the minute communication and media with a new website run by James Eaglesfield, the club has become an efficient organisation.

With the new facilities and strong committee in place, the membership has grown from 140 to over 250 adult and junior members. Together with their facilities being used by non-members who are able to book courts (if necessary with floodlights) online, the Club is flourishing.

The Club is an LTA Registered Venue. To attain this level, it has high standards in place to make it a fully inclusive place to come along and play tennis. At Pocklington Tennis Club everybody is welcome to come and enjoy the experience in the knowledge it is a safe place on all levels.

Chris French, Chairman, Pocklington Tennis Club, said : "To get Pocklington Tennis Club up to this standard with a project which has cost over £170,000 has been incredibly hard work by a committed team; however it would have been impossible without the support of East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The Club looks forward to working with them in the future to continue to develop tennis in Pocklington and the Community."

Councillor Mike Stathers, East Riding of Yorkshire Council portfolio holder for Place Shaping including Operational Services, added : "I am absolutely delighted by the great achievements of Pocklington Tennis Club, and very pleased that we have been able to play our part with the award of Commuted Sums, which were provided by local housing developments as a condition of their planning approval."

 

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