Buntingford Carnival 2006

This was the article published on www.buntingford.com shortly after the Carnival in 2006. More will follow from this years Carnival!

Those of you who visited Buntingford Carnival on Saturday 24th June 2006 will have hopefully seen the Buntingford Tennis Club development team in action along the High Street and in the procession!! If you came and talked to us and even signed up your interest in joining the club – wholehearted thanks for your time and support. We were overwhelmed by the number of people who were interested and excited about our Tennis Club proposal and many offered support to get it up and running – so thanks again – we will be in touch very soon!! Here are photos of us in action!                 

 

A while ago, the Lawn Tennis Association gave us the challenge of finding between 200 and 300 interested potential Club members. If we did that they would look to increase their funding of the Club’s development from 50% to 75%. Thanks to the hard work of the development team and the local community on Saturday, we managed to obtain over 400 interested peoples details that have gone a long way to securing this funding!

  

A lot of work still needs to be done so we need as much help as possible to get the following actions completed:-

• Obtain planning permission from the education authority (Edwinstree School management are happy with our proposals so we’re half way there!)
• Obtain outline planning for floodlighting (ditto)
• Officially apply for LTA funding by completing a business plan outlining the programme management and financing of the new facility
• Apply for and obtain the remaining funds required to build the Club
• Speak to appropriate people once funding secured to build the Club for us!
• Build our own website – in hand, we have secured the resource from a local resident who is a web expert to say the least!!!
• Organise membership further down the track to make sure we have members to play at the Club!
• Etc etc.

 

We are a team of 3 local residents that do this work in our spare time so could do with some help with getting the above actions completed more quickly. If you have any experience at all in any of these areas or can offer your help in any way, please contact Liz Wade on 01763 273646 or the team at buntingfordtennis@btinternet.com. Any additional help would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

This week we are much further down the track than we were before the Carnival and will keep pressing forward to getting this club built.

Buntingford’s MP Mr Oliver Heald visited us at the Carnival and was extremely supportive of our proposition. He gave us a quote to use in the local press and on the LTA website. He will also be issuing a press release for us to boost awareness of the plans and his support in the local area. He said:- “This is an excellent proposal and I am delighted to support it. This would really encourage tennis locally and who knows, a future Wimbledon or Olympic Champion!”. Here’s a photo of 2 of us with Oliver and Leo Tutt from the LTA.

 

 

Attached is a draft architects drawing of how the club could look if it was built at Edwinstree School as planned. The new Tennis facility would be a flood-light, outdoor 3 court all weather surface, with a kid's zone and clubhouse alongside. It would need to be affiliated to the LTA. The school would have to provide a dedicated area for tennis for a minimum of 21 years. The school would have primary use of the facility during the school day with the club having use at all other times. The school would also need to be a funding partner in the project.

Don’t forget that if you haven’t done so already and you are interested in signing up to be a future member please download the registration form or contact Liz Wade on 01763 273646 for a Membership Form. You are not commiting to join, just registering your interest. It will also mean that we can keep in touch with you as the development progresses, so you know where we are with getting the Tennis Club that Buntingford needs and deserves!

Many thanks again for all your support.

With very best wishes,

Liz Wade and John and Helen Littleford

On behalf of the Buntingford Tennis Club Development Team

 

Don't forget that now - you can join the club!

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