Play resumes at Newark Tennis Club after Travellers bolt from Lilley and Stone site
It's back to the court for Newark Tennis Club after a club day and tournament had to be cancelled following a break-in at the clubhouse.
The timber clubhouse was broken into while a group of Travellers occupied land around the courts to the rear of the former Lilley & Stone School on London Road, Newark.
The Travellers intimidated members leading to the suspension of matches and coaching.
Police are investigating the clubhouse break-in with the method of entry the kicking-in of the front door. Children from the illegal camp have been blamed.
Officers are also investigating a break-in at the now-closed Lilley and Stone, which was also reported as being connected to the camp.
The Travellers left the site, which is owned by the county council and leased, in part, to the tennis club, overnight Sunday/Monday, leaving a large amount of rubbish behind.
There are reports of them sitting down to eat on tables and chairs from the school's dining hall, throwing stones at tennis club members, and their vehicles, and generally being intimidating through use of languages and the use of motocross bikes and quads.
Club captain and committee member Sara Jackson said it appeared the group entered the site by bolt-cropping the padlocked gate.
"It began with a few, and then a few more days later, and more days after that," she said.
"While we were playing tennis in the daytime, it wasn't so bad, but in the evenings it became challenging.
"We had to go passed them, their dogs and their rubbish to get to the clubhouse. It was uncomfortable.
"I was there when one member was bitten by one of their dogs.
"On Saturday we made the decision to cancel our club day and tournament; that was until Collingham Tennis Club came to our rescue and said we could use their courts.
"We would have had 30 to 40 people there and it didn't seem safe. On Sunday we moved our matches to Sherwood Avenue.
"We just didn't want an opposition club to have to walk passed all of that."
Sara said members went to secure the clubhouse after learning of Friday night's break-in and were forced to move their vehicles behind the fencing of the club grounds as a large number of people from the camp had gathered.
They reinforced the door as best they could and discovered that a number of rackets and tennis balls had been taken, including those provided for the coaching of juniors — all of which will have to be replaced.
"We have a very supportive membership who tried to do what they could and stay positive throughout," she said.
"Longer term, we're going to have look seriously at the security of the site — whether that be height barriers, electric gates, and those conversations have started with Nottinghamshire County Council, the Lilley and Stone Trust and the police."
Newark MP Robert Jenrick said: "I was appalled and dismayed to hear that Travellers broke into the Lilley and Stone site causing damage to the charity building and Newark Tennis Club.
"I was in constant contact with the chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, who promised his personal attention.
"Fortunately, they have gone now, but I will continue to seek assurances from the police that they will take action against them and will remain in contact with the trustees of the site and Newark Tennis Club."
Inspector Matt Ward, divisional commander for Newark and Sherwood police, said of the situation: "We have attended, made visits and increased patrols.
"We have been in communication with Newark and Sherwood District Council and the managing trust.
"Offences of burglary were reported and are being investigated. Those inquiries are ongoing.
"It is not as simple as to say that because the Travellers were there they committed those burglaries — evidence enough to provide a realistic prospect of conviction is required by the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts."
The Advertiser has attempted to contact the Lilley and Stone Trust regarding the future of the school building itself and its insecurity, without success.
