Bulletin 6

 

The end of 2009 fast approaches and it seems as if nothing has progressed since the last bulletin. However a couple of small steps have been taken in the right direction. Colin Dyke and I have been working hard to complete the Business Plan. In the last bulletin I stressed the difficulty of compiling a calendar of usage, the likely income from this and reconciling the growth over at least three years. The Steering Committee know that several organisations are keen to be involved in the centre once it is up and running. We have received letters of support from the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA), the Reading & District Table Tennis Association (RDTTA), the Royal County of Berkshire Table Tennis Association (RCBTTA), the English Schools’ Table Tennis Association (ESTTA), Berkshire Sport the County Sports Partnership, the British Table Tennis Association for People with Disabilities (BTTAD) and John Jenkins, the President of WAMDSAD. All would love to have this type of facility available to their members. These, together with the local schools, clubs and community, will provide for a large percentage of the available time.
 
Alan Dines has finalised and sent in the response to the questions raised by the Planning Officer on the RTTC pre-planning application submission. Once this has been processed satisfactorily the RTTC can apply for Outline Planning Permission.
 
The RDTTA held a Special General Meeting in November to discuss and approve the RDTTA Management Committee decision to donate the bulk of their Development Fund to the project. I am pleased to report that the membership approved the proposal should the RTTC obtain funding to proceed. A proportion of this fund will be transferred to the RTTC for them to be able to apply to the Charities Commission for Charitable Status. The RTTC has promised to return any unused monies should they fail to get enough financial support to proceed.
As stated before, once the Business Plan is completed and Planning Permission granted the next hurdle is to obtain funding for the project. The committee are pinning their hopes that this can be granted from the Sport England Sustainable Facilities Fund.
 
With the festive season approaching may I take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very merry Christmas and all that they would wish for themselves in the New Year.
 
Peter Bradley – Project Leader