Application for ACV to protect tennis club site is rejected
An application to protect the land occupied by Newark Tennis Club has been rejected by Newark and Sherwood District Council.
Newark Sports Association (NSA) applied to the council to make the site an asset of community value (ACV).
The association, which was first set up to help deliver a sports hub off Bowbridge Road — a project now being spearheaded by Nottinghamshire YMCA — acted amid uncertainty over the future of the site used by the tennis club.
The facilities are in part of the grounds of the former Lilley and Stone School, on London Road, which in recent years has been used as sixth form premises for Newark Academy and as a hub for children with autism.
It was hoped that an ACV order for the club’s site would help to protect it from development.
But the council decided it did not fit the criteria to be an ACV.
To grant the application, the council needed to be sure the land had an “actual current use” that furthered the social wellbeing or social interests of the community.”
The council noted there were seven unused grass courts and therefore 50% of the area was not in actual and current use.
The council said there was no evidence of any time in the recent past the grass courts were in use.
Also, if the land was to be considered as of being of community value under the act, the council had to be of an opinion there was a realistic chance in the next five years there could be a main use or activity on the site, whether it be tennis or something else.
The council wrote in its formal rejection: “The application form states that the club has fallen into decline.
“In the absence of any further evidence as to alternative uses, the council is not of the opinion that it is realistic to think that there can be use in the future which would further the social wellbeing or social interests.”
It therefore considered the land was not land of community value under the legislation.
There is no right of appeal.
'Very disappointed'
The chairman of Newark Sports Association, Mr Tony Colton, expressed disappointment at the decision.
He said: “The NSA and Newark Tennis Club are very disappointed that Newark and Sherwood District Council has failed to recognise Newark Tennis Club, a local sporting asset of some history and standing, as an asset of community value.
“Sport England actively encourages clubs and organisations to register sports facilities as ACVs to try to protect them for future generations.
“The contention that the grass courts are not in current use is simply because the club can no longer afford to maintain them.
“Given the uncertainty around the Lilley and Stone site, an ACV would have given the club some assurance that Newark Tennis Club would be protected.”
Mr Andy Cole, of Newark Tennis Club, said: “It is the fabric of the club that has fallen into decline not the club itself.
“There are currently five teams in the Nottinghamshire summer and winter leagues with the ladies 1sts in the top division.
“The junior membership two years ago had slipped to 15 but with the appointment of a new, dynamic coach the overall membership has increased, and in particular the junior membership, which is currently at about 45.
“The committee has promoted junior tennis and coaching sessions and there is free coaching for juniors each Monday and other coaching for juniors and adults on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.”
He said on May 27 the club hosted a family tennis cup event, and for two years the club had organised a Great British Tennis Weekend event.
“In 2016 about 40 members and non-members attended, but in 2017 the numbers increased to 80 people joining in,” Mr Cole said.
“Another positive feature is the increase in organised tennis play. Tuesday and Thursday evenings have always been match practise sessions with organised play.
“This has been extended to daytime organised play on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings.
“In the winter, with our lack of floodlights we use the Sherwood Avenue courts for evening play.”