I was at Harlow Tennis Club at the Latton Bush Centre this afternoon for the official opening of their state of the art indoor tennis courts. Greg Rusedski was on hand for the offical ceremony, to take autographs and play tennis with some of the youngsters. It was a really a special occasion as the Club Committee, led by Will and Karen, have worked for many years to transform the Club into what it is today. As Karen said to me: "to think that the whole thing was started with just £6 pounds in the bank!"
As well as the new indoor court, there is a great Club House and some first rate outdoor courts. I was particulalry pleased to be at the ceremony, because a few years ago, the Club faced incredible opposition to erecting the indoor court from Liberal and Labour Local Councillors. We brought the then Shadow Sports Minister, Lord Moynihan down to support the Club's plans - and he subsequently brought up the Tennis Club issue in the House of Lords. Former Tory Leader, Iain Duncan Smith also came to the Club in 2004, in order to support the expansion plans. The support from Conservative Parliamentarians and Conservative Councillors was incredibly helpful (it was good to see so many there today), and this was acknowledged by the Tennis Club Committee in their speech. Former Councillor John Paul Goddard, was also instrumental in the campaign.
As well as the new indoor court, there is a great Club House and some first rate outdoor courts. I was particulalry pleased to be at the ceremony, because a few years ago, the Club faced incredible opposition to erecting the indoor court from Liberal and Labour Local Councillors. We brought the then Shadow Sports Minister, Lord Moynihan down to support the Club's plans - and he subsequently brought up the Tennis Club issue in the House of Lords. Former Tory Leader, Iain Duncan Smith also came to the Club in 2004, in order to support the expansion plans. The support from Conservative Parliamentarians and Conservative Councillors was incredibly helpful (it was good to see so many there today), and this was acknowledged by the Tennis Club Committee in their speech. Former Councillor John Paul Goddard, was also instrumental in the campaign.
Having said that, nothing would have happened without the determination, enthusiasm and love for the Club from all those involved - and that includes the many members. The passion for the Club is felt the moment you walk through the doors. Absolutely everything - from the tennis coaching, to the catering in the Club House, is done with the utmost care. There is even a beautiful new patio area, surounded by flowers, which members can sit in the sunshine and watch the outdoor tennis players play.
Congratulations to everyone involved for ensuring that there is yet another reason to be proud of Harlow.
P.S. Lord Moynihan's questions in the House of Lords in 2004, are below:
House of Lords Questions 12 November 2004:
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they and Sport England have made to Harlow District Council regarding the proposed expansion plans for Harlow tennis club to establish indoor tennis courts for after school programmes in the Harlow area as well as for community use and the provision of tennis coaching for disabled children. [HL4775]
What representations they and Sport England have made to Harlow District Council regarding the proposed expansion plans for Harlow tennis club to establish indoor tennis courts for after school programmes in the Harlow area as well as for community use and the provision of tennis coaching for disabled children. [HL4775]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There has been no direct representation to Harlow District Council by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or Sport England. However, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is one of four national governing bodies given responsibility by government and Sport England for the initial identification, project development and progress monitoring of Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) projects. Harlow lawn tennis club community tennis project has been awarded a £898,949 CCDP grant.
The LTA, on behalf of government and Sport England, is working closely with Harlow lawn tennis club to offer advice and guidance in support of its discussions with Harlow District Council about the project. The LTA also has plans to meet representatives from the council by the end of November 2004 to discuss the project's future development.
The LTA, on behalf of government and Sport England, is working closely with Harlow lawn tennis club to offer advice and guidance in support of its discussions with Harlow District Council about the project. The LTA also has plans to meet representatives from the council by the end of November 2004 to discuss the project's future development.
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have met Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association to discuss the proposed expansion plans for the Harlow tennis club to support the Government's school sport and local club link programme. [HL4776]
Whether they have met Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association to discuss the proposed expansion plans for the Harlow tennis club to support the Government's school sport and local club link programme. [HL4776]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: We have not met the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) about Harlow lawn tennis club. However, the LTA has recommended the Harlow lawn tennis club community tennis project to 12 Nov 2004 : Column WA104 the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) project board to receive a grant of £898,949. The CCDP project board is chaired by Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is represented on the board.
We and Sport England are aware of Harlow tennis club's plans and, through the LTA, are working with the club to deliver its developmental objectives for the project and to enhance the provision of tennis facilities in the Harlow area.
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which principal tennis projects in the Harlow area have Sport England and Lawn Tennis Association approval for new tennis courts to meet the target to extend the provision of tennis facilities to local schools and the wider community. [HL4777]
Which principal tennis projects in the Harlow area have Sport England and Lawn Tennis Association approval for new tennis courts to meet the target to extend the provision of tennis facilities to local schools and the wider community. [HL4777]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Harlow lawn tennis club has been awarded a community club development fund (CCDP) grant of £898,949 for new indoor facilities and additional floodlit courts. Harlow lawn tennis club has previously received a loan of £30,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association and a grant of £52,200 from the Sport England Lottery Fund towards a new clubhouse.
By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com
Dear Mr Halfon,
ReplyDeleteWhilst it is indeed decent of you to volunteer the fact that Former Councillor John Paul Goddard was 'also instrumental in the campaign' it might actually have been more honest for you to have said that - Cllr John Paul Goddard, as the ONLY Member of Harlow District Council launched the campaign despite opposition from his own party.
In fact you remember that Cllr Goddard was the ONLY Member of the entire council not to vote against the Harlow Lawn Tennis Club and it was HE that called for a full council meeting when every other member of the council of all parties refused to acknowledge the issue.
You may remember that when the Chairman of the Council refused to call the meeting, it was Cllr John Paul Goddard that used standing orders to call a meeting of the council himself, a convention that had not been used for many, many years.
So when glorifying yourself, perhaps you might want to pay the slightest credence to the guy that actually brought this issue to the attention of the council and the town and in return acknowledge that no member of the Conservative Party ever voted for the Tennis Club prior to the issue being raised by Cllr Goddard in the first instance - in fact every member of the Conservative group joined with the ruling Lib Dem / Labour administration at that time to vote AGAINST the Tennis Club!
You may well be on your way to becoming the next MP for Harlow, but perhaps thanking Cllr Goddard fro saving the £1 Million of funding for the HLTC and initiating the campaign and forcing the administration into a humiliating U-Turn might have been a better way forward than inflating your own ego in the role you played in this victory!
Well it appears that I am exactly a year late in being able to respond to this message! Whilst I very much appreciate some of the facts put forward by the original person to post, there are, I fear a few stated facts that are actually inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteIt is true to say that originally I was the only member of the Council not to 'vote against' the Tennis Club application, but neither at that stage did I vote for it. In fact if my memory serves me right, I was substitute member on the committee that evening and was not fully equipped of all the facts and thus had to abstain until I obtained further information.
After I had researched the issue further, I did believe that it was something we, then, as the Conservative opposition should support and did mount a campaign.
It is wrong to say I called the Council meeting myself, under Council standing orders that is not possible. I and a number of other Conservative Councillors called the meeting after teh refusal of the Liberal Democrat Chairman to do so.
Lord Moynihan, then spokesman for the Conservative's in teh Lords visited the club at teh request of Robert Halfon, not myself. The further subsequent visits by high-profile figures including Iain Duncan Smith were also organisaed by Robert.
Whilst I very much appreciate the tribute to me by the poster, it's important to realise that the efforts put into the campaign were by a series of team members within the Conservative party and when teh Full Council meeting was brought to a vote EVERY member of the Conservative Party voted for it.
This is all now largely historic and what is important is that teh Harlow Lawn Tennis Club have tehir fantastic new facilities.
Robert Halfon, it seems, through his blog paid tribute to me in being 'instrumental' in teh campaign which I certainly believe I was, and bearing in mind at teh time he wrote that, I had not only left the Conservative Group, the Council and the Town, it was generous and like him to do so when he had no reason for doing so.
Congratulations again to the Harlow Lawn Tennis Club and congratulations to Robert as the MP for Harlow who with the HLTC has shown what he can do in opposition in mounting campaigns, we look forward to seeing what he can do with the power of his new office.
Regards
John Paul Goddard
Former Conservative Councillor for Sumners & Kingsmoor