Private School News

COMMUNITY SPIRIT AS TRENT COLLEGE TEAMS UP WITH WEST PARK

As the cold weather continues, students at Trent College have been in need of a warm and dry place in which to enjoy their traditional outdoor sporting activities. A collaboration with Erewash Borough Council means that this is now a reality!
Students from all year groups are now able to make use of the covered tennis courts in West Park, Long Eaton, located behind the School Campus. The process began in February 2009, when the possibility of purchasing the structures and relocating them onto Trent soil was looked into, but this presented many engineering difficulties and it was decided not to proceed. However, a solution was found, which will benefit both Trent College and the local community, as James Gregory, Director of Estates Services explains:
‘In July 2009 we met with the council and investigated the possibility of leasing the structures in their current position. We are delighted that seven months later we have now secured the use of the spaces, they certainly proved valuable throughout the recent snowy weather! Our own Estates Services team have been working to bring the structures back to a suitable condition to allow unlimited tennis, netball and hockey to be enjoyed by children from Trent College and our Junior School, The Elms. The structures cover two tennis courts and effectively provide two large indoor spaces. It is hoped that the local community can also benefit from our arrangements with the council as local tennis and sporting groups have already shown an interest in using the structures.’
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, has welcomed the link-up between the Council and Trent College: ‘We are very happy to be working with Trent College, which is a well-known and respected school within the borough, and we are delighted that the covered tennis courts at West Park are now up and running again for the benefit of the Erewash community.
‘This is partnership working at its best, which has produced an improved and excellent new leisure facility within our flagship park for both the students at Trent College and for the local residents outside of school hours. It is equally good news that the tennis ‘bubble’ – as it is known locally – will not just be used for tennis. It will provide an all-year-round, covered facility for a whole range of sports activities’
Trent College has a very strong sporting tradition and an enviable record of sporting achievement. The use of the West Park tennis courts will add to the excellent facilities already available at the school, including an indoor swimming pool, sports hall, squash courts, floodlit Astroturf and extensive playing fields.