A tender was recently launched for a borough-wide tennis coaching contract, which would result in only one company being able to coach on the 51 council-owned tennis courts.
However, the original tender did not include courts 1-10 in Wimbledon Park, and shortly after the launch of the tender, Emma Wells Tennis (recently renamed Tennis in Merton) was announced as having won the contract.
The tender was later revised without consultation to include courts 1-10 in Wimbledon Park.
These courts are the only floodlit courts in the borough due to a recent Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) funded upgrade making them the most popular.
After winning the contract, Tennis in Merton is responsible for the booking systems for all tennis courts in Merton which was previously run by IdVerde (Merton’s contractor in charge of green spaces).
Courts 1-10 in Wimbledon Park are publicly owned but, unlike other tennis courts in the area, they are available at a cost to either play or coach.
There is a risk that other tennis coaching businesses will be pushed out to private clubs outside the area, forced to close or have to work for Tennis in Merton.
A petition on Change.org asks that ‘Merton Council reconsider the terms of the contract and allow local coaches, and independent businesses to continue operating on the publicly owned courts 1-10 at Wimbledon Park.’
The petition starter believes that ‘Merton Council has haphazardly handed over public courts 1-10 at Wimbledon Park to a private company through an unfair and opaque tender process.’
They also state that ‘Merton has ignored requests for open dialogue and dismissed the concerns of the coaches who have used the courts for decades, as well as its own residents.’
The petition has over 1,700 signatures (to date) and comments condemning the actions of the council.
Some fear that the quality and price of the coaching will be affected as there is no competition so tennis (something the borough is known for) will be less accessible.
Also, some companies provide coaching for specific age ranges (children and teenagers) and others provide for particular levels and abilities which limits the range of coaching available.
The community also share concerns for small and local businesses having to close in the area as this may also affect people’s livelihoods.
Another gripe from the petition supporters is that Merton is once again putting profit over the community.
This was also seen when Merton gave planning permission to AELTC’s (All England Lawn Tennis Club) plans to build 38 new courts and an 8,000-seater stadium in Wimbledon Park.
Merton Councillor, Jill Hall, believes that despite the petition, ‘the contract has been signed and it is, therefore, a ‘done deal.’’
She also thinks that ‘it would be helpful to get all the main parties around a table to talk this through and look to find a compromise.’
Live, Love Sport (a tennis coaching company) reported to the Local Democracy Reporting Service stating that the tender decision created a monopoly and that coaches believed these courts would not be affected so did not join the tender.
All coaches, excluding Tennis in Merton, can only coach on these courts until March 2025 according to Live, Love Sport.
In a statement published on 22nd November, Merton Council said: ‘The council is under extreme financial pressure because of forces beyond our control.’
‘So, the council sought a professional coaching company to provide coaching and run the courts on our behalf – for an income that will be put back into the courts to ensure they stay well maintained.’
‘In addition, a stipulation of the LTA grant was an annual £65,000 fund to pay for future court upgrades and refurbishment.’
‘The council underwent an open and competitive tender process to find the best company to do this – and, importantly, to also make sure the coaching was of the very best quality, price and to the highest safeguarding standards.’
‘The contract was awarded to Tennis in Merton – previously Emma Wells Tennis. Emma is a renowned coach.’
‘We understand that the contract means other coaches, who have been using the courts to run their businesses, may feel upset.’
The council mention ‘extreme financial pressure’ from ‘forces beyond their control.’
According to the petition, this directly contrasts Merton Council’s £75 million ‘Legacy Fund’ with priority areas including ‘Sporting Infrastructure’.
The LTA’s required £65,000 annual investment, when multiplied over the five-year contract, makes up less than 1% of this fund.
In other words, profits from these tennis courts (now only available to Tennis in Merton) are only a tiny percentage of this new fund to create better ‘sporting infrastructure.’
The petition states that ‘this raises serious questions about the council’s financial priorities.’
If you would like to make a difference and express your opinion on this matter, please sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-merton-s-decision-to-award-monopoly-contract-on-merton-borough-tennis-courts
Or if you are able donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-merton-tennis-coaches