Shooters Hill Lawn Tennis Club has formed a partnership with Charlton Park Academy School in Greenwich, which has seen the development of a popular Satellite Club with the nearby Special School. The students visit the club on a weekly basis to use its facilities and to take part in tennis lessons with the club’s disability coach.
Access to the clubhouse and courts presented an immediate hurdle to visitors as the street is at a higher level than the club, with steps at the entrance being the first challenge. Initially the club asked Trevor May Contractors to look into the cost of installing an outdoor lift next to the steps, but aside from the initial cost, the club was advised that it would also need to budget for annual servicing and safety inspections. It was suggested that a ramp might be a better option.
A scheme was drawn up that not only addressed the level change at the entrance, but eliminated the step up into the clubhouse and provided ramped access down to all of the tennis courts. The opportunity was also taken to improve the area outside the club house for social events and elevated viewing of tennis.
Players no longer have to walk across the at-times slippery grass and mud to get onto the courts and grass cutting is no longer necessary, two additional benefits.
