Floodlighting: the Club celebrates

From Tennis

Andrew Meatyard:

Many thanks to all the members for their support during this lengthy process. I would like to point out the facts regarding the committee's success with regard to floodlighting:

• The strategy was to submit an application for four courts, knowing that it would be refused by the council and by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal, but that we would work towards an inspectors report that would allow a compromise application to succeed.
• A considerable amount of work was put into the appeal case and we were rewarded with a report that guaranteed success. The planning officer Richard Stone agreed with our interpretation of the report and stated he saw no reason why the new application would not succeed.
• Unfortunately controversial comments in the Esher News & Mail resulted in more objections which in turn resulted in Richard Stone recommending refusal (Oh for a man not made of straw!).
• The application went before Elmbridge Planning Committee and the councillors almost fell over themselves supporting the application, commenting how sport should be encouraged in the Borough (the May elections are quite close!).

The committee and members of TDLTC succeeded and I am averse to any individual ego being massaged.

Roger Marlow:

Brilliant!

Vesna Trifunov:

Great News!

Glenis Ward:

Fantastic news. Well done, Andrew.

Simon Whittall:

Please convey my congratulations to Andrew. I had to congratulate him on Saturday for another reason—can't bring myself to do it twice in a week!!!

John Thater:

Excellent news – now if only it wasn’t so windy!

Brian Holmes:

Many congratulations to you and all those involved with the application in gaining the floodlight approval. Great new after all the previous efforts and disappointments.

Peter Light:

Must've been Phil Mitchell's posting on the Esher News website wot done it.

Bridget Davis:

Congratulations on the floodlighting result! When arranging for the installation, please don't forget the mid-week members who play during working hours and the hours of daylight. Although I realise there will be some disruption during the days while the work is done, please try to enable us to continue playing. Perhaps our subscriptions could be reduced for the coming season - and future ones, as we will not benefit from the floodlighting and the extra resource that it brings!

Simone Halfin:

Many thanks to everyone concerned!

Paul Randolph:

I'm sure Andrew will confirm much of what I am about to say, as both he and I were at the planning meeting last night. Though she is my wife, I have to say it was largely through her efforts that the planning was approved. As you know Richard Stone a respected Planning Officer on the Committee had recommended refusal and so it was going to be an uphill climb to get it through. However Karen was the Ward Councillor promoting this application and she had done her homework and carefully prepared and eloquently presented her brief to the committee last night. More importantly she had spent much of the last few days doing as much as she could to find out what issues other councillors might raise so that she could be prepared to address them with the result that- to my and I'm sure Andrews amazement, it went through not just smoothly but UNANIMOUSLY! I hope you and Andrew won't mind my writing this but I felt it important to reveal to you - and the Club - the background - especially as I had felt unable to write a letter in support lest it appear to create a conflict of interest with Karen's efforts.