Published: Wednesday, 22nd March, 2006 10:15
Tennis club facing its final set
By Border Telegraph Newsroom
Print Article
A CENTURIES old club in Galashiels has arrived at break point.
And its few remaining members are firing more than volleys at Scottish Borders Council.
Galashiels Lawn Tennis Club was forced to move from its Abbotsford Road home in 1996 when the council sold of its courts for housing.
Membership stood at over 100 players in those days, and it was regularly producing Borders champions.
It was promised replacement courts and a clubhouse when the sale went through.
But the serve and volleyers have been left with a shabby all-weather court that they have to pay for.
And it is now likely the club will fold before the season starts.
Member David Liddell told the Border Telegraph: “Nobody wants to play on the replacement courts the council gave us. They are a complete mess, and we are being charged for playing there.
“When the council sold our courts in the mid 1990s it promised to supply the club with alternative facilities. What we got was an all-weather playing area that we have to share with every other sport in the town.
“And since the leisure trust took over the courts, we have to pay every time we use them.
“All of our members have drifted away to other clubs – and I can’t blame them.”
The vandalised clubrooms sit empty, the courts’ surface is beyond repair, and surrounding fences are left broken. It is anything but tennis.
A national tennis representative has banned any coaching taking place on the courts as she found them in a dangerous condition during a visit.
And, despite gaining promotion last season, Galashiels Lawn Tennis Club has been forced to withdraw from the Border League.
Match secretary Craig Thomas said: “We couldn’t play our opening couple of home fixtures last season because the nets had been stolen. It is one thing after another.
“The council didn’t even inform us we were dealing with the leisure trust. It wasn’t until we started getting invoices through that we realised they had taken over.”
Borders Sport and Leisure Trust took over the running of the town’s multi-court pitches in 2002.
And Scottish Borders Council has already created a racket about the condition they are now in.
A spokesman for the council said: “We are already aware of the problems at the courts.
“We are in discussions with the trust, and we want to see them in a fit condition for use.
“I can’t comment on any agreement made with the tennis club, but our sports development unit would be keen to see it continue. I hope it is not too late.”
When the sporting facilities were signed over to the leisure trust four years ago, no mention was made of the tennis club’s agreement.
A spokeswoman for BSLT told us: “We have checked the lease, and there are no exemptions for any club in the town.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Pensioners have a Gala day