A tennis club is opening its doors to local people for the first time, after a campaign by councillors and residents to stop it being replaced with a six-storey block of flats.

West Norwood Tennis Club is holding an open day on Sunday, August 7, despite several attempts by its owners to sell off the land for housing development, which would include a new tennis club.

The move marks a breakthrough by councillors and residents, who have been campaigning to save the tennis courts and make them more accessible to local people. Until now, the tennis club's owners have operated a strict members-only policy, blocking new memberships since 2005.

Dan Lockeretz, of nearby Thornlaw Road, said he had tried to join the club on several ocassions but was turned away. Instead, he has been forced to drive his three children over a mile to courts at Belair Park in West Dulwich, or to The Rookery on Streatham Common. He said: "As far as we can tell they are not interested in having it as a tennis club.

"It is a fair trek to other clubs in terms of little children. It is just annoying that the courts are around the corner but we have to get in a car and drive.

"You should have the opportunity to play with other kids in the area. They could have coaching sessions down there like most other tennis clubs."

Coun Jane Pickard, who is also secretary for Norwood Action Group, said: "[The owners] say they have made an effort to market the club years ago but I have lived here 20 years and I have never seen anything.

"What local people want and what councillors want is thriving courts for people to play tennis on. We want an open, friendly club, we do not want a block of flats. We do want housing but that is the worst possible site for it." About 130 local people wrote to councillors opposing a renewed application to build 58 flats and a new tennis club on the site in December 2010. The application was later turned down by the council. Previous applications have failed because officers felt it was inappropriate to build on the open space.

Developers appealed the most recent rejection and their case was heard on July 26. A decision is due in the next few weeks.