A REQUEST to use the public tennis courts in Tavistock's meadows for private tennis coaching has been given the thumbs down by the town council.
Members of the council's properties committee heard that a request to use the courts had been received by a coach, who would be charging £10 to pupils, out of which he would pay court fees and supply balls and rackets.
Town clerk Roger Howard told the committee the request was contrary to the Meadows' by-laws.
Cllr Iain Andrews said he was 'a bit perplexed' about the request and concerned the coach was operating outside the tennis club system and taking up time on the public courts.
Cllr Brian Trew said anyone coaching minors should have been through the relevant police investigations and have obtained child protection certificates — permission should certainly not be granted until this had been checked out, he said.
Cllr Peter Jones said as landlord and town council, the council was in a difficult position and 'could be seen as being culpable from a moral point of view' if anything went wrong.
Cllr Norma Woodcock was opposed to the public courts being blocked by commercial activities and proposed the request be turned down.
The committee recommended the proposal unanimously.