I READ with interest about the long-term lease acquired from Vale of White Horse District Council by Wantage Tennis Club, for the land within the Manor Road Park.

It is absolutely appalling that, out of a population of 9,906, 120 tennis club members have been granted half an acre of grassed open parkland for their private use.

This is from a site of some 16 acres. But we are not told whether this acreage includes the present overall site of children’s play area, car park, bowling club, etc, or whether it is the size of just the grassed areas available now.

Councillor Hannaby thinks the sacrifice of public parkland is fair as the tennis club would be paying for the resurfacing of the two original public courts instead of the council tax payer.

Should we remind her that the local tax payers believed their council tax was already paying for the upkeep and maintenance of that same public facility?

It is yet another example of the former administration of the Vale’s inability to work within their budgets.

How much is the valuable land on Foliat Drive, the present home of the Wantage Tennis Club, being sold for?

Will the club benefit financially after development costs incurred at Manor Road, if they are granted planning permission?

This would seem just a formality as the Vale have already granted them a long-term lease.

The message seems to be: don’t bother objecting – this is very much a done deal.

CAROL TOMLINSON, Elizabeth Drive, Wantage