Members of a yearly tennis scheme in Richmond have been warned against booking courts and not showing up.

Play Tennis Richmond runs 44 courts across 11 venues in the area on behalf of Richmond Council.

Courts reopened in late May after the Covid-19 pandemic brought play to a halt and the scheme received such "unprecedented" demand that it was frozen to new members the following month.

This was because the 44 courts were running very close to capacity and organisers pinned the blame on "extremely inconsiderate behaviour that results in these slots going to waste".

The issue appears to be continuing, according to an email from Play Tennis Richmond's Sports Development Team sent yesterday (Monday, September 7).

"Please ignore this email if you are using the courts you have booked," the email reads.

"This (third) email is specifically directed towards those Play Tennis Richmond members who continue to book courts and do not cancel their bookings when they do not intend to turn up.

"It is extremely inconsiderate behaviour that results in these slots going to waste when people are struggling to book a court. Especially in these times where the tennis courts have been extremely busy. So if you have booked a court and you are unable to make your booking please be kind enough to cancel your booking, freeing the court up for our other members.

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"It is incredibly frustrating for other members or non-members to see an empty court that could have been used.

"In addition for clarification the vast majority of no shows on bookings are members and not the tennis coaching providers who deliver coaching on some of the sites."

Where you can play tennis in Richmond

The 11 venues included in the scheme are: Cambridge Gardens, Carlisle Park, King George's Field, Kings Field, Kneller Gardens, Moormead, Old Deer Park, Palewell Common, Sheen Common, Westerley Ware and York House Gardens.

It costs £8 an hour for non-members.

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