NOTICES FROM RELOCATION COMMITTEE
 

13.8.14

If you’ve visited the new site in the past week, then you will have seen that the expectation for play to start on the new courts mid-August is almost a reality - but not quite;  unless you want to play without nets!

Lines on the main courts were painted last Monday - and therefore these four courts can in theory now be played on. However - because of the unrelenting hot spell of weather over the past four weeks, the asphalt is still softer (more vulnerable) than we would like.  We’ve therefore decided that it’s safest to stay at Southampton St for the remainder of the summer season (to Thurs September 11th) and then move to the new courts officially when the Winter season starts ( Tues Sept 16th ) . There will be some coaching sessions that can take place at the new site before then.  

The “red zone” still needs a bit of work. Fencing is scheduled to be completed next Monday/Tuesday and then painting on the 26/27th August. If all goes according to plan, then the next Junior Tournaments ( Aug 30th/31st)  can take place at Folly Sports Park.

The new LED floodlighting went live yesterday.  See photos on www.facebook.com/tennis4all   . 

Landscaping and re-instatement of trimtrail is underway, and will be completed before end Aug - in time for planting in September.

Furniture, fixtures & fittings in the clubhouse are also near completion.

9.6.14

Clubhouse mostly complete, apart from finishing touches on furniture & fittings. Groundworkers finished the final levels for the courts last Monday ( far corner is now 1.2m higher ) ; and Sports Courts ( court construction company ) start Monday 9th June . B&B rooms booked for six people for five weeks.

On Monday it's laying out & getting equipment onsite. If you then visit the site on the Tues/Weds you should see a lot of change very quickly. boundary curbs go in on Tues/Weds. 220 tonnes of stone per day then go in over the following days. If weather holds, they'll be working until dark on the good days. 

With a fair following wind, the four main courts and the red zone (near the clubhouse) will be completed 3rd week of July. The courts are then left to cure for three weeks before painting. During these three weeks ( taking us to end July) we reinstate the trim trail that will then go around the new courts and do the landscaping.

All being well, play on the new courts can then commence mid-August.

7.10.13

Regarding our relocation plans, we've had an interesting and challenging year, trying to find that elusive common ground between the best interests of five parties ( Bloor, Cricket, Rugby, Tennis. Vale) . However - the last leases, licenses, sub-leases & contract-out docs have all just gone through today. Therefore - land transfer from Bloor to Vale will now take place, and the Tennis Club will be issued with the licenses to enter the new site & start the building of the new Clubhouse & courts.

The new Folly Sports Park is at last taking shape!

The Tennis Club can therefore now commit to our chosen contractors, and to the sale of our existing site. Exchange of contracts and completion on Southampton St took place earlier today. This means we've reached the point of no retrun - and are living on borrowed land! Building on the new site will start in the later part of next week, and is scheduled to take 24 weeks in total ( handover end March 2014) . It IS possible that we may be able to use the new courts & floodlights before then, but in the meantime we will be continuing to use our existing site (as tenants) .

       BUILD PLAN PHASE ONE                    BUILD PLAN PHASE TWO

27.09.13

See Relocation Report to AGM

2.3.13

Our relocation to the Folly Park Sports Centre (!) continues to make progress. As with anything that involves multiple interests and parties, these things take time to get right. As part of the asset transfer process, in April 2012 the Club became a non-profit company limited by guarantee, and midyear we were successful in having our planning application passed for the new site.  The application for the development of the existing site should go through in April. Land ownership for the Folly Park site still needs to be transferred to the Vale before actual building can proceed.

24.9.12

Land transfer from Bloor Homes to Vale imminent. Therefore, leasehold agreement between FTC and Vale can be finalised; and planning application for development of Southampton St site can be submitted. 

19.5.12

Planning Application granted for Jaspers Hill site.

15.3.12

Planning Application has now been sent to the Vale. This will involve a minimum consultation period of six weeks.  If there are more than three objections then the process will go to committee.  See HERE for documents

11.3.12

Planning Application will be submitted shortly to the Vale for the relocation to Jasper’s Hill.  Four courts (two floodlit) ; extension to existing store house (Tennis clubhouse in front) plus “Red Zone” . Developer still interested in Southampton Street site.

14.7.11

The new location for Cricket and Rugby clubs is up on Folly Park, next to the Stanford Rd. Old Faringdonians have always called this field “Jasper’s Hill” . Previously, this site was not a candidate for the Tennis club because of planning restrictions. However, District planning authorities have now indicated that the submission of a planning application will be considered. Therefore, at the invitation of both Cricket and Rugby Clubs, the relocation committee is  now actively investigating the possibility of also relocating to this site. The advantages of shared facilities and synergies between the different clubs are very compelling.  Topographical, geoenvironmental, and soil analysis surveys of the site are now in process.

11.3.11

A construction company is still interested in developing the site at Southampton Street and it is still possible that a new club will be built at Steeds Farm.  The committee are also investigating other options.

1.9.10

There is very little progress to report.

A construction company is still interested in developing the site at Southampton Street and constructing the new club, but are in protracted discussions with the planning officer on the details of what can be built at Southampton Street.

Until this is resolved, nothing can be formally agreed and the relocation committee have decided not to involve professional advisors in further work.

9.6.10

Slow progress is still being made, nothing has changed since the February update i.e. - Negotiations are still going ahead to buy land at Steeds Farm for a new club and sell the current site at Southampton Street for housing development. 2 new planning applications will have to be made.

If negotiations are successful, it is possible that building work for the new club could start in October, with the club moving from Southampton Street in spring 2011, after which the housing development would start.

10.2.10

Negotiations are still going ahead to buy land at Steeds Farm for a new club and sell the current site at Southampton Street for housing development. 2 new planning applications will have to be made.

If negotiations are successful, it is possible that building work for the new club could start in October, with the club moving from Southampton Street in spring 2011.

11.1.10

Slow progress is still being made.
Negotiations are still going ahead to buy land at Steeds Farm and build a new club there. The planning permission for the land there ran out last summer, so it is likely that a new application will have to be made.
A builder/developer is interested in buying the current site at Southampton Street for housing development and building the new club at Steeds Farm. They have examined the site in detail and are drawing up new plans, so  a new planning application will have be made.

24.9.09

Attempts to move to a new site have continued during the year, once again this has been very much a team effort - with an AD Hoc Relocation Committee, of Don Cain, Andy Cathcart, Alan Elbourn, Lin Ross & myself. We have had valuable help from other club members on specific questions and also from our professional advisors.
We have an offer for the Southampton Street site at a figure that would probably be enough to purchase land at Steeds Farm and develop the new club.
The difficulty since this offer was received has been coming to an agreement to buy land at Steeds Farm, it is possible that we are now close to agreement, but nothing is definite yet. It is likely that if an agreement is signed there it will be for enough land for 4 courts, clubhouse & car park.
It is possible that we are close to achieving a move, but much work remains to be done.

14.7.08

The committee are still hoping to conclude negotiations concerning the purchase of land at Steeds Farm to be the site for the new tennis club. The committee are assessing the impact that recent reductions in the value of development land will have as the proceeds from the sale of Southampton Street are needed to fund the purchase of land and construction of the new courts and club house etc. Construction costs have also risen and therefore we are re-assessing these costs to identify where savings could be made or some aspects phased or delayed. Marketing of the Southampton Street site is being considered to identify potential interested parties and to ascertain the current market value of the site. This will determine whether the project is viable in the present economic situation.

25.2.08

Negotiations are still going on; our solicitors are now discussing terms for an agreement with solicitors for Andrew Liddiard concerning the purchase of land at Steeds Farm

Our selling agents, Marriotts, are preparing marketing details of our Southampton Street site.  If any members know a developer or builder who may be interested in buying the site, could they suggest that the developer contacts Marriotts to register their interest.

Members of the Relocation Committee have started to investigate in more detail such matters as latest developments in court lighting and construction.

It is still not possible yet to give any timetable for a move to a new club.

29.12.07

Negotiations are still going on; our solicitors are now discussing Heads of Terms with solicitors for Andrew Liddiard concerning the purchase of land at Steeds Farm

Our selling agents, Marriotts, are preparing marketing details of our Southampton Street site.  If any members know a developer or builder who may be interested in buying the site, could they suggest that the developer contacts Marriotts to register their interest.

It is not possible yet to give any timetable for a move to a new club

25.9.07

See Relocation Report from Anne Sawyer for AGM 2007

15.8.07

Negotiations are still going on concerning a move to Steeds Farm, but are looking more hopeful.

The Planning application for housing development at our current site has been approved.

17.5.07

Negotiations are still going on concerning a move to Steeds Farm.

For technical reasons the consent to redevelop the current site has lapsed, so a new application has been made.

4.3.07

In November, a revised offer was received from the owner of Steeds Farm giving the options of a lease or a freehold.  Since then the relocation committee have tried to work out if the freehold option is a possibility:-

• Advice has been taken from our solicitor on the conditions of the offer
• An estimate of the possible selling price of the Southampton Street site has been sought
• New estimates of costs for the construction of a new  club have been obtained
• Advice has been taken from the OLTA Development Officer concerning loans & grants

It has been decided that the freehold offer should be the preferred option and our agent has been asked to attempt to obtain an agreement on this.

The planning permission for development of our Southampton Street site was obtained in 2002 and would lapse in October, so our architect as been asked to renew this permission.

Anne Sawyer
Relocation Committee