West End Letters: Tennis coaches | Paddington Rec | Eduardo Caffarena | Bradley Roberts | Linda Ely

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:24 April 2009

Coaches: Eduardo Caffarena and colleague Bradley Roberts

Tennis court economics

• THANK you for your report regarding the loss of tennis coaches at Paddington Rec (Tennis coaches continue battle over £1,000 courts, April 17).
Many of us who are long-term residents of Maida Vale and its surrounding area have played and been coached at Paddington for many years.
In my case, I have been coached by Eduardo Caffarena on those courts for more than eight years. There were never problems with this arrangement, and the courts were well used.
You report that the council have defended the very targeted increase in fees to £1,000 as a way of “freeing up the 11 courts for more group sessions at discounted rates to community users.”
However, in the morning and during the day these courts often sit empty, so it seems that this ridiculous way of rationing their use is not very effective.
I support the idea of access to sporting facilities for all people in the community.
But they are not being used! And it is unclear how lessons occurring am/midday while schools are in session and while the courts are not in full use affect access. I don’t understand the economics.
How on earth can it be a problem for Nuffield and the council to have courts more fully engaged am and midday year-round when they are often empty? There must be a middle ground.
I consider myself, by the way, part of the community, despite the repeated implication by city council representatives that I am not part of the community which they wish to serve.
It is clearly the council behind these changes, despite the ridiculous comments by Nuffield in your report about personal trainers and contracts.
I have been amazed by the lack of responsiveness on the part of the councillors for this area. The only exception is Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg.
The solution is so simple, just keep the community coaches and make the fee structure for all coaches the same as other public courts in Westminster and the problem would all be solved. It would provide a middle ground for those who want access and those who want to see all talented and effective coaches at Paddington Rec.
Linda Ely
Warwick Avenue, W9

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: