Petition to Southwark Council Cabinet re Tennis Courts in Burgess Park

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Petition to Southwark Council Cabinet re Tennis Courts in Burgess Park

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: Covered Tennis Courts in Burgess Park

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I think the agenda is to get as many kids in Peckham playing tennis as possible some we love it and play for the rest of their lives one or too end up being really good! Particularly if they can play all year round.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I used to run down the walworth road passed burgess park from the Elephant to school in camberwell every day in the mid 70s . Sadly I did not get the opportunity to play tennis and only managed it after business success enabled me to get out of the area . I then took sons to park Langley and started playing myself at 41 .

Very few kids in the area ever played tennis apart from a few weeks during Wimbledon and i do not recall anybody playing regularly all year round . It's great initiative but my worry is the support required from parents . In the deprived inner city often single parent family's are dependent on benefits how are they going to be able to afford the coaching ? .

in order to generate pro players you would need fully funded coaching. , club travel to tournaments including ITF tournaments and with LTA cutbacks can't see that happening anytime Soon . But it's certainly a movement in the right direction although I feel it will be at least another 2 decades before a kid from Southwark becomes a success in the pro ranks although it's a welcomed move in the right direction .

If it's to get kids from deprived and ethnic backgrounds playing tennis it's great and I would certainly like to meet the man driving the burgess park initiative it certainly in my opinion a worthwhile route to find GB top 100 players but maybe not in our lifetime

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Tuesday 24th of February 2015 09:03:24 AM

emma · Strong Club Player

yes, it does sound really good what is happening and the court charges especially for juniors seem quite reasonable but I really like free tennis for all.

when I lived in London I played tennis (for fun) almost every day and was fortunate that the rbkc provided free community tennis hours where it was first come first served. have just checked and it is still free. do Southwark have this initiative?

I don't know that much about Southwark but I do know that in the neighbouring borough of Lambeth (where my daughter lives) there is massive regeneration going on. they cant just build swanky apartments and restaurants but have to take into account it is a deprived area and therefore provide what is needed for everyone. is this going on in Southwark too?

p.s. I think Gary is ace, doing so much to help Brits especially Marcus :)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Gary it didn't sound the most impressive jog in the 70,s and when I made the same journey in the late 80's it was similarly uninspiring and the last place you would expect a tennis hot bed however! I really hope to see you disappointed when a kid from southwark starts hitting a ball professionally in the next 10 years

The existing facilities aren't bad
7 courts, practice wall and floodlights
Changing rooms and cafe
Adults £30 a year, juniors £10 courts £1:50 an hour off peak for juniors
Lots of coaching for kids
One young lady MJ who does a small part of her training at Burgess Park is the subject of the BBC my life series available on I player at worth a watch.
An U 11 was part of the GB team that lost heavily to the French Muktar did however win 3 of his 6 matches and the singles and doubles events in the individual tournament
There is more

Tennis was the number one priority in the first bid and it would be a shame to see such heroic efforts stifled, covered courts would be the next step.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I would urge anyone interested in supporting this initiative to bring a high quality accessible tennis facility to inner city South London to consider emailing parks@southwark.gov.uk regarding the Burgess Park Consultation.

I have stated that

No-I am not content with the plan and proposals for Burgess Park
Covered tennis courts should be included in the master plan

You may of course have an entirely different view

More details about the club are available on their Facebook page

Southwark City Tennis Club ( Be Active)

Thanks for taking time to read this thread and we all look forward to the Peckham Open in 2021!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

A bit of very positive news in that Southwark council have agreed to place tennis as a major consideration in their plans for future development of Burgess Park following a successful petition with well over 500 signatories organised by Southwark City tennis club.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

RE: Petition to Southwark Council Cabinet re Tennis Courts in Burgess Park

Oakland2002 · All-time great

the petition, Southwark Council Cabinet: Southwark Council to replace current approach and develop a long-term tennis strategy

Heres the link:
www.change.org/p/southwark-council-cabinet-southwark-council-to-replace-current-approach-and-develop-a-long-term-tennis-strategy

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Thursday 4th of May 2017 04:03:58 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

A big thank you to those that have signed the petition.

The major focus of the Southwark City Tennis club is getting kids of both sexes playing tennis most of whom would never have considered it. I know there are a number of similar we'll run clubs in areas not traditionally associated with tennis.

Historically Burgess park was relatively non functional, the tennis club along with the BMX track! Have helped turn it into a vibrant space that people want to use.

Heres the link:
www.change.org/p/southwark-council-cabinet-southwark-council-to-replace-current-approach-and-develop-a-long-term-tennis-strategy

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Thursday 4th of May 2017 04:04:52 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Thank you for the continued support just over a couple of hundred short of 1000 signatures on a petition to preserve tennis opportunities for inner city kids and generally grow the game in and area and amongst communities that would traditionally only kick a ball! Not that that is a bad thing.

Sorry to nag but won't stop until I get the Norwegian Experts seal of approval! Please have a look and give the LTA a nudge.

1000 signatures would be quite an achievement for fans of community tennis!

Heres the link:
www.change.org/p/southwark-council-cabinet-southwark-council-to-replace-current-approach-and-develop-a-long-term-tennis-strategy

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Southwark Council Cabinet: Southwark Council to replace current approach and develop a long-term tennis strategy
by Be Active Social Enterprise CIC · 772 supporters
Petition details
Community
PETITION UPDATE

Tennis Petition Presented!

Be Active Social Enterprise CIC

OAKLAND 2002 SAID:

Just some feedback for anyone who is interested particularly anyone who signed the petition. Just so there is no confusion I can take no credit for the enormous amount of good work that goes on at this club, I just live near by and admire their enthusiasm and energy for bringing tennis to their inner city community.

Please see see the report pasted below

MAY 10, 2017 All,

We delivered the petition at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. The general atmosphere I think was positive and the strength of the petition, not only with 771 signatures but 232 people taking the time to comment, did push this up the agenda. The formal response from the Council is on
moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s68292/Report%20Petition%20from%20Be%20Active%20Social%20Enterprise.pdf

Following the meeting, the Council has invited Be Active and the charity Southwark City Tennis Club to take part in some discussions about how tennis could be structured on the 27 public courts in the borough. This could include making tennis a priority sport for Southwark and the options for increasing the courts at Burgess Park. There will still be a fair degree of uncertainty for ourselves as the Burgess Park tender process develops over the summer. However, regardless of the outcome of this and whether or not the social enterprise gets to continue, we wanted to have some say in how tennis develops on the public courts in the borough and, to give credit to the Council, there is now a process in place for us to be heard.

We are going to leave the petition open for a few months as this will allow us to send a couple of updates over the summer to let you know how things are going.

Once again thank you so much for all your support.
Tom and Umran

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 10th of May 2017 09:29:58 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 10th of May 2017 09:30:39 PM

Vandenburg · Futures level

In 10 years, at the rate of gentrification of London, Southwark will be an area full of city workers, not young kids hoping to get into tennis.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

You have a point but gentrification south of the river has been very slow, the housing stock is such that there will always be a diverse population to cater for.

At the moment park tennis is a way of making the sport as accessible to everyone as possible. There are also brand new courts in Ladywell, Lewisham. A very accessible club in Greenwich has such good coaches and large membership that you struggle to get a court and needs to expand. All very promising.

I genuinely believe we need to encourage the whole of society to exercise everyday, being able to compete regardless of the level and intensity makes exercis fun and tennis unlike many sports is a game for life that has a semblance of sexual equality at the highest level.