We the residents of Lansdowne and tennis community request that Lansdowne Tennis Courts be protected and preserved for sports and recreation and not be disposed of by the City for alternative land use. The revived Lansdowne Tennis club has been existence since 30 January 2025. A group of community members were inspired to come together for the single purpose that those dormant courts need to be made active for all in the Community. Since then the community took it upon themselves to clean the courts and repair as best we could to make it playable for the community open day on 23 February 2025. The open day was well received by the community inviting young and old and the greater tennis community to be part of our opening. 1 week later informal coaching commenced and by March 2025, a senior Professional Coach, Mr Kiewitz agreed to donate his time every Thursday at 4pm to 6pm to coach kids and continues to do so now. We have kept Wednesdays from 4pm to 5pm for kids to play the game and practice strokes learnt with some stroke correction. Also coaching training has commenced with 1 novice coach and plans to be expanded through interest by members in the club who want to give back by coaching kids. The kids who started in March 2025 are still committed and continue to play and make strides in their game. In June we were ambushed by an unexpected summons from City lawyers, Adriaans Attorneys demanding arrears for 2021 to 2022 and legal fees. We responded to the summons informing the lawyers that those costs belonged to the old club leadership structure and was accrued during their governance of the club. However, the current club members in good faith contributed to the arrears rates as at end April 2025 reducing the arrears substantially. The lawyers confirmed that they were advising their client to write off the arrears but they were waiting on the City. Nothing has been forthcoming since. The revived Lansdowne Tennis club has grown steadily in membership and 30 July 2025 a new leadership structure was appointed. We held our first social tennis event on Saturday, 2 August which was a success thanks to all the members present with kids. We had coaching. Gents singles game. Ladies double game, a mixed doubles game that resulted in an injury because of the poor condition of the courts. And a seniors mixed doubles game. And on the other court, dad and sons and kids playing doubles followed by a group of kids with moms. Fun was had by all. We only left when the sun set after a beautiful day. How then can it be deemed that the court is not being utilised. Today, 6 August I was verbally informed by the City that the land of the courts was planned for disposal due to lack of activity on the courts. We refute this and ask everyone in Lansdowne and surrounds and the greater tennis community to stand with us as we object to this decision made by the City without proper consultation. These courts place community at front and centre through the game of tennis and through camaraderie and friendships made on and off court. Children deserve to play in safe spaces with nurturing adults committed to seeing them grow into great sports people. We fail to understand, Mr Mayor why the City doesn’t protect the safe spaces that kid rely on in a community threatened by drugs, crime and the lack of freedom for kids to play until now. If you share in our objection please stand up and sign the petition in solidarity.