Dear Editor

I am writing to clarify Ross Tennis Centre’s aspirations following your recent report about my presentation to Ross Town Council and the subsequent letter from Mrs Annie Fisher published on January 22nd.

Ross Tennis Centre is now a not-for-profit Community Interest Company run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of the whole community of Ross and the surrounding area.

We are open to both members and non-members and wish to encourage as many people as possible to come and enjoy our facilities, which are open every day of the year from 9.00am until 10.00pm.

Over the past 18 months or so we have, with the generous support of members, local businesses and other supporters – and without recourse to any public funding at all - achieved a great deal.

This includes resurfacing and re-fencing two of the courts; professionally treating the other two courts to extend their lives while we build up the funds necessary to resurface these too; refurbishing the pavilion; recruiting an excellent new coach; introducing online booking of courts for members and non-members; and a host of other improvements.

We are now giving thought to the next stage of our development and wish to engage initially with Ross Town Council and Herefordshire County Council on some early ideas in order to establish the extent of their support for them, prior to engaging more widely with local residents and the wider population of Ross.

None of the ideas I discussed with Ross Town Council can yet be described as plans, but as and when they are, your readers will I hope be reassured to know that we will wish to consult widely on them, in addition of course to any consultation that will take place as part of a planning application.

John Pelly

Director

Ross Tennis Centre CIC