UK tennis club accused of “elitism” for wanting to chop down 156-year-old tree

Locals have gathered to save a 136 year old tree in a public park earmarked for removal to make way for a tennis court. Faversham Tennis Club in Kent announced the proposal as a way to cater for a growing membership and population in the town. It wants to bring down a 50ft horse chestnut tree that overlooks the facility to make room for a fourth court. But some residents and town councillors have asked the club to scrap its plans claiming it would only benefit a select few. Ronnie Comfort, who has lived in Faversham for 78 years, said: “My childhood was spent in this park. "We used to come out here as children and throw sticks up into the trees to get the conkers down. “As an eight-year-old, I stole my first kiss under this tree. “Some people say it’s got a slight disease. I think a majority of people have got disease but you don’t go and chop them down.” Museum worker Peter Sean added: “We need more trees for all, not private clubs for the few. “They can put an extra court in one of their members' fancy gardens, not in our public park.” Volunteer tree wardens Sarah Deeson and Frances Beaumont lamented the potential loss of valuable green space at a time when Faversham is set to see more homes be built. Frances said: “This is just another step towards tarmacking over Faversham.” Sarah added: “Our central green areas are very important, the belt of housing is all around Faversham. “As far as we know, it was one of the original trees. It’s part of the original plan.” Faversham Town Councillor Eddie Thomas echoed calls for the club to scrap the plans, branding them “unnecessary”. The Lib Dem said: “Both from a personal view and that of a Faversham councillor, I call upon Faversham Tennis Club to withdraw their application. “The cutting down of this tree will not improve the public amenity of the area, it will reduce the public amenity. “We are in a climate emergency and the removal of this valuable tree is unnecessary.” Members of Swale Friends of the Earth, a volunteer group passionate about creating a healthy natural environment, have also spoken out. Amanda Tresiger and Bernie Mothes, members of the charity, shared their views on the tree’s possible demise. Ms Tresiger said: “We believe that any planning should take trees, mature trees particularly, into consideration. They’ve taken years to get to this point of maturity. “In every stage of its life and in every season of the year, it will be important to biodiversity. “Disease can be managed, it’s not a black and white situation.” Mr Mothes added: “Even assuming it has a disease, a tree like this is capable of living another couple of hundred years.” The horse chestnut tree is believed to have been planted in 1866, making it at least 156 years old depending on its age at the time. Records show it was gifted to the recreation ground by a local reverend. The recreation ground itself sits within a conservation area and was created in 1860 with subscriptions from local residents and money bequeathed by lawyer Henry Wreight (corr) when he died 20 years earlier. The 20-acre park comes under the rule of Faversham Municipal Charities, who lease the ground to the council. They have agreed in principle to support the tree's felling. At a meeting on Monday, Faversham Town Council confirmed its objection to the plans. In its recommendation to the borough council, which will make the final decision, the authority said that “whilst the town council support improving recreation facilities, this should not be at a cost to the environment or the loss of a mature tree”. It continued: “The removal of the tree would not benefit the general public who use the recreation ground. It would only be of benefit to the members of the club." Announcing the plans on Facebook, a club spokesman said: “Faversham Tennis Club are pleased to announce plans to expand the number of courts at the site from three to four. “As memberships for adults and juniors grows, it is important that we are able to continue to move tennis forward in Faversham. “This full-size fourth court will help us continue to grow tennis for the local area and will facilitate our aspiration to use the power of sport and tennis to bring people together, to improve the health both mentally and physically in adults and children and to continue our tradition of opening up tennis for the benefit of everyone.” The tennis club claims to have seen a 94% increase in junior members and a 24% increase in adult membership over the past year. Plans have not gone in for the tennis club’s expansion yet, with the first step being to gain permission for the tree to be felled. A spokesperson for the tennis club said: “We do want to do what’s best for the environment, hence our plans to plant trees and pollinators in the recreation ground. “But over the long run, we believe it would sh