Petition on future of tennis courts receives '˜very positive response'

A petition with nearly 2,000 signatures urging Brighton and Hove City Council to ‘save our public tennis courts’ was presented by Hove Park player Des O’Dell to members of the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee on Tuesday (January 17).

It called on the council to ‘engage all user groups of tennis facilities in the city before deciding on future funding arrangements’.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of proposals by the Brighton and Hove Parks League to run all 68 tennis courts as the council looks to make savings on the cost of running the city’s parks.

After the meeting Mr O’Dell wrote on Facebook: “The response from the committee was very positive, they said that all groups/clubs that play on the public tennis courts will be consulted before any decision is made and they are keen there is an open dialogue to achieve this aim.”

During the meeting he said: “We believe, if given the opportunity, the community will step up and help – and they’re more than willing.”

Mr O’Dell argued that for any proposal to be successful it was ‘vital’ to have the support of the whole community, and without a viable proposal courts would become unsafe and be forced to close.

Deputy council leader Gill Mitchell, who chairs the committee, said: “A sustainable way ahead to protect and hopefully improve these facilities for the future has to be found.

“So across a whole range of council services we are looking at doing things differently.

“And in terms of our decreasing ability to maintain sport subsidies, the best place to start was to talk directly to the clubs, the players and their governing bodies, giving the full financial picture for each sport including the shortfalls.

“We’ve been very honest and open about that so that everybody gets the full picture. And these discussions have been taking place for over a year.”

She hoped that users of the tennis courts were reassured about their intention to consult as widely as possible on any proposals for the courts that were brought forward.

Conservative councillor Tony Janio said: “I’m just pleading that the dialogue continues. I hope officers will listen not just to the official representatives.”