Tennis courts across the District could be refurbished if Council’s bid is successful

The Council’s Cabinet agreed at their meeting last night to start the bid application to the English Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which will see tennis courts across the District refurbished.

This will allow for the 13 full size and 4 junior tennis courts owned by Cannock Chase Council to be refurbished using funding from the Lawn Tennis Association and a contribution from the Council’s capital programme following the development of land across the District.  

If the bid is successful, there will be a policy change away from the provision of free access to tennis courts, in favour of a national scheme, indorsed by the LTA, of employing a nominal fee hire charge for their use, the revenue from which will in part be used to support the maintenance of the courts in future years. 

  

The provision of free tennis courts has historically caused some frustrations for players, who were not able to guarantee access to the courts when they wanted to play. The LTA’s Clubspark booking platform will allow users to book courts online.  

It is recognised that the ease of access to the tennis courts, by non-tennis players, has led to several incidents of anti-social behaviour across all the sites, and this partnership would include the installation of digital gates, which will keep the courts secure.

Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald, Portfolio Leader for Housing, Heritage and Leisure said “Our tennis courts across the District are in need of significant investment.  Partnering with the Lawn Tennis Association on their ClubSpark programme, will allow us to achieve and maintain a high quality tennis court provision, with minimum capital required from the Council.

“I hope that by offering improved tennis court facilities, we will encourage more people to use the parks to improve not only their physical health, but also their mental wellbeing.  The LTA’s scheme also offers a family ticket, along with the continued provisions of some free access, so we’re hoping that this will encourage the younger generation to start playing with their families or with local clubs.”

Tennis coaching currently takes place at Hednesford and Cannock Parks, provided to an extremely high standard by Cheslyn Hay Community Tennis Club, who will only charge a minimal fee once the Tennis for Free funding has expired.

The LTA will provide £148,725 of funding which includes, £89,350 at Cannock Park, £5,000 at Hednesford Park and £54,375 at Heath Hayes Park. The remainder of the funding required for the improvement works will come from the Council’s capital programme and Heritage Lottery Funding.