Bulletin 8
Well here we are in 2012, Olympic Year, when, in the early days of this venture, I naively thought that Reading would have a Table Tennis Centre available for the Olympic teams using it in the lead up to that major event. Suffice to say that we will not meet our original timetable but, after a long period of hiatus, we have at last received some very positive news from the RBC Planning Department.
The Planning Manager for the South and West Reading Area has now confirmed that the principle of a table tennis centre on our proposed site makes sense and is not opposed by planning policy. RBC staff have briefed the Council Cabinet on this subject and, as a result, we expect to receive a report from them in early February on various issues relating to our proposal. This will assist in the formulation of our outline planning application.
Regrettably, our design expert, Alan Dines, has been seriously ill for the past 12-months although continuing his great efforts. Early this year Alan lost his final game and RTTC lost its most valuable member of the committee. What can be said about this man is that this centre was to fulfil a dream that he, and many others in Reading had, of having an all-encompassing table tennis venue catering for beginner to elite all in one place. To that end he produced all the necessary drawings and documents to be able to secure outline planning permission. Although Alan was unable to see his plans implemented, this has made the RTTC Committee even more determined to fulfil the dream on his behalf. They also extend their deepest sympathy to his family in their sad loss.
The project now appears to be moving, albeit slowly, ahead again and I anticipate that we will receive further details in the coming weeks on how to proceed. Once we can get the important outline planning permission then the work will, once again, start in earnest to complete the Business Plan and apply for funding to bring this to fruition.
I am hopeful that our website will be updated on a much more regular basis with news items and progress reports in the future. The committee would be pleased to hear from other volunteers to assist us in the work. We desperately need a minute secretary to relieve Colin of this duty so that he can concentrate on the Business Plan and a Design Leader to help us move forward with the design side of the project. Other volunteers who would just like to come along to meetings to see if they could help would also be welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Bradley – Project Leader