Operator meets Community Council to explain introduction of charges for tennis courts

Alarmed at the introduction of charges for tennis court usage at the Spearpoint Playing Fields without any consultation, Kennington Community asked to meet Ashford Borough Council and its contractor Freedom Leisure who operates the courts. Both quickly agreed to attend to the monthly meeting of the Council and did so in August. 

 

Nick Shaw Freedom Leisure Kent General Manager gave two main reasons for the charges: costs of maintaining and replacing the high level playing surface and concern that as many as 7 tennis coaches were taking about 25 per cent of the booking. The company had no way of knowing whether these people met the standards laid down by the Lawn Tennis Association or had undergone enhanced DBS checks. 

 

Although there had been no public consultation and nor had the Community Council been consulted, Freedom leisure had surveyed all those who had booked courts. There had been about a 10 per cent response rate. 

 

The consultation had led to a decision for a charge of £6 per court per hour with no limit on booking initially. There will be an Annual Pass costing £150 a year for up to 5 hours a week usage. For Special Educational Needs users, there will be a limited amount of targeted weekly hours free of charge and limited targeted discounted annual passes. 

 

Residents living within a half mile radius will also have access to free booking slots at certain times of the week. 

 

Freedom Leisure estimate that the courts cost just under £7,000 per year to operate and that resurfacing will cost £30,000 every three to five years. 

 

Councillors questioned the maintenance costs, which appeared to assume that the company’s contract with ABC did not include any staff time. ABC representative Steven Bartholomew ABC Client Officer agreed to provide the Council with a copy of Freedom Leisure’s contract, subject to commercially confidential information being redacted. Concerns were also expressed that a ‘sinking fund’ for resurfacing was all very well, but if the Freedom Leisure were to go into liquidation, this would not be protected. 

 

One resident, who described himself as a regular user before charges were introduced, pointed out that a half mile radius in one direction covered little more than the rest of the playing fields. He also feared that free access would be at inconvenient times. Freedom Leisure agreed to consider a proposal from councillors to extend the area allowing residents free use, including assessing whether this could be granted for all residents in Kennington Parish.