Hi All
Disappointing news on the bridge front.
If you remember, I sat in on a Council meeting at the end of November when the bridge was an agenda item. As it was very clear to me that no quotes for a repair had ever been received and therefore never discussed by councillors (even though I was assured by their clerk that they had voted not to pursue a box-weld repair quote at their September meeting), I put together the letter which was sent round to the membership + the members of the council and then explored looking for repair quotes myself.
I received 2: one for £1000 (a quick repair which would have seen the bridge back in use until funding could be found to replace it) + one for just under £8000 (a far more extensive repair which would basically have replaced the bridge on a like-for-like basis). As the Council's minutes claimed that a repair had already been discussed, I was advised that I would need to find 5 councillors ready to re-open the debate, otherwise it would have to wait 6 months. During an informal meeting with 3 councillors just after Christmas, I said that if the repair could be discussed and carried out quickly, the Tennis Club was prepared to pay the full cost of the £1000 repair. This was decided after discussion with the club's committee and because we had enough in the account to cover it. As club chairman I was concerned that we could be without direct access for the foreseeable future, which might impact on the club's growth and development.
As a result, the matter was added to yesterday evening's council meeting as an extra ordinary item. 2 of us sat in, myself + Nikki, the club's secretary. At no point were we allowed to comment. The club's offer to pay to repair was overwhelmingly rejected and instead, they voted to leave the old bridge in place but barricaded off and instead of a replacement bridge, have a path put in from the skate park at a cost of something like £15000 + VAT but with no time-scale agreed and I'm not even sure they've got the money, as at that point the meeting was closed!
So for the time being, our main means of access will continue to be across the field. On behalf of the committee, I apologise for the inconvenience and cannot understand the council's logic. Neither do I understand why they make and take decisions regarding access to the Tennis Club but do not keep us informed that they are doing so.
However, life goes on and plans are in place for the 2014 programme, details of which will be sent out as and when they are ready.
I shall welcome any comments.
Regards
Martin Godwin (Club Chairman)
Disappointing news on the bridge front.
If you remember, I sat in on a Council meeting at the end of November when the bridge was an agenda item. As it was very clear to me that no quotes for a repair had ever been received and therefore never discussed by councillors (even though I was assured by their clerk that they had voted not to pursue a box-weld repair quote at their September meeting), I put together the letter which was sent round to the membership + the members of the council and then explored looking for repair quotes myself.
I received 2: one for £1000 (a quick repair which would have seen the bridge back in use until funding could be found to replace it) + one for just under £8000 (a far more extensive repair which would basically have replaced the bridge on a like-for-like basis). As the Council's minutes claimed that a repair had already been discussed, I was advised that I would need to find 5 councillors ready to re-open the debate, otherwise it would have to wait 6 months. During an informal meeting with 3 councillors just after Christmas, I said that if the repair could be discussed and carried out quickly, the Tennis Club was prepared to pay the full cost of the £1000 repair. This was decided after discussion with the club's committee and because we had enough in the account to cover it. As club chairman I was concerned that we could be without direct access for the foreseeable future, which might impact on the club's growth and development.
As a result, the matter was added to yesterday evening's council meeting as an extra ordinary item. 2 of us sat in, myself + Nikki, the club's secretary. At no point were we allowed to comment. The club's offer to pay to repair was overwhelmingly rejected and instead, they voted to leave the old bridge in place but barricaded off and instead of a replacement bridge, have a path put in from the skate park at a cost of something like £15000 + VAT but with no time-scale agreed and I'm not even sure they've got the money, as at that point the meeting was closed!
So for the time being, our main means of access will continue to be across the field. On behalf of the committee, I apologise for the inconvenience and cannot understand the council's logic. Neither do I understand why they make and take decisions regarding access to the Tennis Club but do not keep us informed that they are doing so.
However, life goes on and plans are in place for the 2014 programme, details of which will be sent out as and when they are ready.
I shall welcome any comments.
Regards
Martin Godwin (Club Chairman)
