Haringey Council rules out tennis court charges 'in the next year'
Tennis at Priory Park - Credit: Polly Hancock
Haringey Council has U-turned on a decision to explore charging to use tennis courts in the borough after an angry public reaction.
In October the council had proposed introducing fees to use the facilities in evenings and weekend, including at those in Priory Park in Hornsey.
However opposition councillors and park users created a petition and argued this would discourage participation in sport.
READ MORE: Hampstead Community Centre plans Covid-friendly Christmas Day
Cllr Alessandra Rossetti (Lib Dem, Alexandra) said: "This U-turn is a relief. Numerous comments on our petition pointed out that tennis was a fun, socially-distanced outdoor activity and said they’d hate to see children whose families couldn’t afford to pay excluded."
One Crouch End resident to sign the petition was Kate Fielding. She said: "We play tennis very informally and for fun as a family. If there was a charge to use the courts, we wouldn’t use them any more and would miss out on this activity."
Haringey's environment chief Cllr Kirsten Hearn (Lab, Stroud Green) has now ruled out charging to play tennis "in the next year".
She said the option of charging had first been considered in 2019, but added: "The charges were not implemented then, and, following further review this year, will not be now."
Most Read
- 1 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee flypast: Where, and when, the planes will fly over north and east London
- 2 Man arrested following stabbing on Royal College Street
- 3 Highgate woman pledges £1million for children's autism charity
- 4 CCTV footage released as family pay tribute to 'loving son' Olsi
- 5 Five bedrooms, utterly charming and in Muswell Hill
- 6 'I'm sorry people had to wait 30 years,' former minister tells Infected Blood Inquiry
- 7 Floating park between Camden Town and King's Cross
- 8 Barnet: Two men charged following fatal High Road stabbing
- 9 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 10 Former Camden Council leader chooses women's safety charity for second mayoral year
She said the council had been forced to consider this move due to the ongoing strain on finances caused by government cuts and the coronavirus pandemic.
