The prospect of Marlborough Tennis Club having its own six courts again has taken a smashing move forward with Marlborough Town Council giving its support for a project to build them on land leased from Marlborough Gulf Club.
The club, founded in 1911, sold off its own site some 25 years ago, and since then has rented courts from Marlborough College, which have no shelter from the weather, and also plays tournaments to on the courts at Marlborough Academy.
But with the build up of demand from youngsters to take up the sport, the club wants to fulfil its dream ambition to have a permanent home of its own for its 60 adult members and 80 juniors.
And the project will not only bring a £450,000 investment into the town but create and sustain jobs and provide courts that will be open to the public with a “pay and play” facility to all budding tennis stars.
“We believe this proposal will provide an exciting and unique new facility offering affordable tennis for the Marlborough community,” club spokeswoman Sarah Nichols told Marlborough News Online. “It is within easy walking from the town centre and adds to the community of sports clubs on the Common.”
She pointed out: “Many Marlborough residents currently travel to the surrounding villages such as Pewsey, Ramsbury, Burbage and Great Bedwyn, who all have their own tennis facilities.
“Our club currently has over 100 juniors in coaching programmes. But without a permanent home the club relies on part-time coaches and has to fit the coaching in with the availability of the Marlborough College courts.
“In addition there are limited toilet facilities and there is no shelter from the weather, which contribute to making the coaching of juniors more challenging.”
Now the club proposes to construct a quality all year tennis facility on land leased from the Marlborough Golf Club, with disabled access and provision for wheel chair tennis. The facility will comprise six courts with latest technology lighting to minimise light spill and agreed switch off times.
The facility will use the existing Golf Club road access and clubhouse. A small wooden pavilion will be provided for shelter and toilets, which is particularly important when coaching juniors.
The development would be situated on the old, practice area which runs parallel to the A346 up Port Hill. It is designed to blend in with the landscape to minimise visual impact and located to maximise the benefit of natural hedgerow screening.
The Town Council on Monday gave its full support to the project on the understanding that the plans are discussed with the Marlborough Common Users Group to get their reaction.
Town clerk Shelley Parker will now make contact with the Planning Inspectorate “for the relevant permissions associated with building on common land” and will “work with the tennis club towards its submission of a full planning application.
