uPlay Tennis was recently introduced in parks in the Brent area of London, making it more difficult for people who wish play tennis. Working in partnership with Brent council it has already had a real negative effect on the people who wish to play on the tennis courts.

There have already been some really strong negative feelings about the introduction of uPlay and this is the main reason why I am starting this petition. I aim to make Brent council aware of the fact that people are not happy with the introduction of uPlay Tennis by highlighting some of the negative effects it is already having on people.

I would like Brent council to recognise the fact that their recent partnership with uPlay Tennis has failed and take immediate action by stopping uPlay in the parks. This will be the best way forward in interest of developing sports in the Brent area and will stop and the angry and upset feelings people have towards Brent council's new partnership with uPlay Tennis.

Some of the changes made to tennis courts in the parks with the introduction of uPlay are:

No more cash payments

My friend and I wanted to book a court and was told by a uPlay employee who approached us that we had to book the court so we offered him cash and he refused to take it, he said we have to go and book on the internet the court on the internet. Before uPlay an employee from Brent council took cash payments, easy and so simple.

No more student discounts

Before uPlay was introduced, discounts were available to students who wished to book tennis courts. If it wasn't for student discounts my student friends and I would not have played as much tennis in Gladstone Park as we did. Students find it difficult to be able to pay the full price uPlay have set to book a tennis court.

Empty parks

As a result of uPlay, every time my friends and I have walked past the courts, we have noticed not a single person playing. This is on the weekends, in the summer months, which is usually the busiest time for tennis players. Passers by dog walkers and joggers have also noticed a decline in the use of the tennis courts and this demonstatrates the effects of bad sports development in the Brent area as a direct result on uPlay.

Poor quality of tennis courts

I and many other players at Gladstone Park in particular have unfortunately noticed a rapid decline in the quality of the tennis courts. Examples of these are the nets not being levelled out the way they should be, with different courts having higher or lower heights than others are. The nets are also missing the middle strap lines and there are tears and holes in the nets themselves also. This unacceptable quality of the tennis courts shows a real lack of appreciation and respect for the community and it’s tennis players, some of which have been playing in Gladstone park for over 25 years.

Unfair uPlay treatment of people

I and other tennis players have examples of unfair treatment directly from the way in which their wardens operate within Gladstone park. My friend and I just arrived on court 2 when a uPlay warden approached us and asked us to pay £6.50 to play for 1 hour. My friend then took out his wallet and offered the warden the money but he refused to accept it. He said to our amazement that uPlay do not take cash payments for court bookings and that if we have not booked online then we have to leave, we did not know this so we got kicked out of the courts. There were people playing next to us on court 1 and we saw the warden talking to them so I asked the warden did they pay. He said no they didn’t because they didn’t know and he let them stay in the park and play for free but he asked us to pay him when we are in the same position as the people who where playing on the court right next to us. uPlay should treat everyone at the park the same and we got kicked out of the park because of this, leaving upset and angry after having played their for years and we have not been back there since that day.

Another time my friend saw the uPlay warden kick out other players from the court but then allowed other people to play football on the other tennis courts. So uPlay are not providing good service and this has angered and upset people.

I would also like to add that I and many other players feel as a result of uPlay’s unfair treatment of people that we would like to see change by promoting a fair and equal payment system. One that involves all adults having to pay for the use of tennis courts and for it not to being decided who pays and who does not pay by uPlay Wardens. We do not appreciate the clear double standards taking place at Gladstone park, if one set of adults have to pay for the courts then so should other adults, regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality etc.

Price increase

With uPlay increasing the price to £6.50 per hour without the student/concession price of £3.20 being available anymore, this has lead to people feeling uPlay are charging us unfairly. With all the changes uPlay have brought into tennis, people are feeling ripped off. Other tennis courts in north London are in much better condition that the ones under uPlay and some of these are even free of charge, which makes us believe Gladstone park really should be free in comparison to these other courts. 

I need your support so if you feel like you would like to see uPlay stopped then please show this by signing this e-petition so that Brent council can take action after realising how many people would like to see better tennis in parks. This e-petition will be emailed to Brent council and uPlay each time someone signs this e-petition

Thank you for your consideration and support!

http://www.uplaytennis.co.uk/bookacourt/