Posted on behalf of Golden Lane Sports and Fitness

[Laurence Jones]

Changes to the out door court timetable

Please see attached.

Regards

 

Laurence

[JM]

Lawrence, this is a slap in the face for those residents who live directly above the tennis courts, who have to put up with the noise, and who have asked for this to be more limited in time and thus in part to remedy the detrimental effect on quality of life.  From its origin of a modest sports facility FOR RESIDENTS the Corporation has turned this into a bloated profit centre, to the detriment of residents.  It is residents who should have the greatest say, yet Fusion have chosen to accommodate the wishes of anyone who uses the "Leisure Centre", resident or not, yet non-residents don't suffer the consequences of shrill netball whistles and shouting tennis coaches daily.  The 'leisure centre' certainly gives no quite leisure time to those living above the court.  If the Corporation really cared about people before profit, it would grass over the courts - as they were originally intended by the architects - to provide extra, much needed green breathing space for residents on the estate.  A residents garden, with the chance to grow some produce for some, would be a much healthier and considerate solution.

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

Jean, you raise very good points.  Unfortunately, comments we put to the Estate Office will not be answered on here.  This site is meant to be a discussion one, where we all can communicate and discuss issues with one another.  The Golden Lane FB page also will not respond to points raised, so far, which is not my experience as to how FB works.  Laurence has many times, at residents' meetings, said we should all 'work together', so why not discuss together too?  

Regarding how the interests of us residents should be put first, I so agree.  Non residents do not have to put up with endless noise from the courts.  I also, as do other residents, feel strongly that our private space on Hatfield House lawn is used, and monopolised at lunch times, by people who do not live here.  They leave rubbish, which many times over fill the bins, which we, as residents, have to pay to have cleared.  I have experienced verbal abuse from some of these people on occasions.  After the last Open Meeting for residents it was put on notice boards that extra signage and patrols would be considered, especially when the summer came.  Yet, when I spoke to the Estate Office about this, they said they didn't know anything.  

[Laurence Jones]

Jean Mc said:

Lawrence, this is a slap in the face for those residents who live directly above the tennis courts, who have to put up with the noise, and who have asked for this to be more limited in time and thus in part to remedy the detrimental effect on quality of life.  From its origin of a modest sports facility FOR RESIDENTS the Corporation has turned this into a bloated profit centre, to the detriment of residents.  It is residents who should have the greatest say, yet Fusion have chosen to accommodate the wishes of anyone who uses the "Leisure Centre", resident or not, yet non-residents don't suffer the consequences of shrill netball whistles and shouting tennis coaches daily.  The 'leisure centre' certainly gives no quite leisure time to those living above the court.  If the Corporation really cared about people before profit, it would grass over the courts - as they were originally intended by the architects - to provide extra, much needed green breathing space for residents on the estate.  A residents garden, with the chance to grow some produce for some, would be a much healthier and considerate solution.

[Laurence Jones]

As a rule, I do not respond to comments on this site and will not be engaging in further discussion on this matter via this forum. Individuals are free to e-mail me directly and I will ensure that we/Fusion Leisure provide them with a response.

However, and as stated in the document, I am of the opinion that these changes have been made following consultation with residents and users of the facility.

I have invited  Fusion Leisure to attend the next residents' meeting which is being held on 14 April and they have comfirmed their attendance. Any further concerns can be raised directly with them.

 

Laurence

[JM]

Many thanks for the courtesy of a reply Lawrence, most appreciated.  I do wonder though, how you view this site if it's not to engage with residents, a point which I acknowledge has been made several times before.  It can't be simply to keep an eye on what residents are saying to each other (some might call that surveillance, which obviously the Corporation would strenuously deny), nor should it be simply a channel for the Corporation for push comms, without thought for residents' right of reply.  The philosophy of social media in all its forms (this site and Facebook being examples) is dialogue and engagement.  I would note that David Graves, our Alderman, does directly communicate with residents on this site, for which some of us are very appreciative.  I would suggest the Corporation considers in some depth its engagement strategy for dialogue with residents, in order to satisfy both itself and residents, clearly not the case in every respect now.  Residents meetings are not enough.

Thanks for inviting Fusion to the next residents meeting.  Unfortunately as I am out of the country on that date I am unable to attend, so will have to leave to others the raising of the issue of the detrimental effect on the quiet enjoyment and thus quality of life of residents by the use of the estate facilities by Fusion and its customers.  Perhaps you will be good enough to pass on my comments yourself.  That said, however, only the Corporation can address the issue of creating more green space on the estate.

Thank you.

Laurence Jones said:

As a rule, I do not respond to comments on this site and will not be engaging in further discussion on this matter via this forum. Individuals are free to e-mail me directly and I will ensure that we/Fusion Leisure provide them with a response.

However, and as stated in the document, I am of the opinion that these changes have been made following consultation with residents and users of the facility.

I have invited  Fusion Leisure to attend the next residents' meeting which is being held on 14 April and they have comfirmed their attendance. Any further concerns can be raised directly with them.

 

Laurence

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

Hello Laurence.  It is appreciated when you do respond on this site.  However, may I ask why you make it 'a rule' not to do so generally, when it is clear that's what some residents would like you to do?  I realise you say that residents can email you directly, but the problem with that is other residents, who may have similar concerns, will not be privy to any response you may give, unless they email you themselves.  Surely it would be far more simple if residents asked you something on this site, and you responded, so we all could have the benefit of that response, and it would save on many emails back and forth. Obviously, I am not referring to private individual resident matters, but concerns many of us have.  You always say how we should all 'work together', so this is one way that we can.  

[Linda]

Hey laurence. I sent you an email on Thurs still havent got a reply!