TABLE TENNIS - A NEW DEVELOPMENT - BULLETIN No 1
Many people, players and administrators, have had a dream that one day Reading would have a purpose built Table Tennis Centre. This has been highlighted at the Reading Sports Forum for many years but recently an approach was made to the Mayor of Reading at the National Junior and Cadet Championships held at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in May. This conversation was followed up and a meeting was arranged with Reading Borough Council, Leisure Services. An explanation of the needs for a Table Tennis Centre was put forward and received a very enthusiastic reception. The result is that a piece of land has been offered for this purpose. A Steering Committee has been set up to produce a Business Plan to establish if the project is viable. This should be completed by the end of 2008.
The plans are VERY AMBITIOUS, and, of course, will require help and commitment from any source in due course. It is important to stress that the project is not being driven by clubs in Reading. The committee members have put club loyalty to one side in a concerted effort to get this germ of an idea off the ground (literally). They will give their time and their own expertise, however the cost of the whole project is going to be very high. More about how on earth this will be funded will be given in a later Bulletin. There are going to be problems, major ones, but at long last there is an impetus, and a committed enthusiasm to see this project succeed. The Reading & District Table Tennis Association and the Royal County of Berkshire Table Tennis Association are fully behind this initiative.
The Steering Committee: Project Leader and Chairman - Peter Bradley, Business Plan Manager - Colin Dyke, Design Leader - Alan Dines, Fund Raising Leader - John Cunningham, Public Relations - Brian Halliday, Treasurer - Barry Carter (RDTTA), Peter Charters and Nigel Maltby.
ETTA liaison is through Lisa Bosley - ETTA Regional Development Officer.