A project to build an indoor tennis facility in Dumfries has been served with an unexpected setback.
The cost of constructing a regional indoor centre has risen from £1.5m to more than £2m within the past 12 months.
And it means that the proposal for a brand new three-court facility could collapse – unless Dumfries and Galloway Council comes to the rescue.
Having already committed £250,000 to the project in February last year, the local authority is now being asked to stump up an additional £220,000 to bridge a funding gap and make the tennis courts vision a reality.
The matter will be discussed at the council’s communities committee on Thursday when councillors will decide if the cash-strapped council can pay the six-figure bill.
A report to be tabled at the meeting blamed the price hike on “cost increases in the construction market over the last few years”.
It reads: “A revised project cost of £2,013,488 inclusive of fees, on an amended specification which still satisfies the minimum requirements of the national governing bodies has been returned.
“We have met again with both Tennis Scotland and Sportscotland, who acknowledged an increase in the cost for all indoor tennis projects seeking to be delivered across Scotland.
“These national partners have agreed to increase the level of funding available to our project by a further £342,325 in order to still deliver this project.
“A funding gap remains of £221,163.”
Two potential sites were identified for the Dumfries project – the King George V complex and Nunholm Tennis Club.
An appraisal exercise came down in favour of the former which is operated on behalf of the local authority by Queen of the South.
Councillors are now being asked to approve an extra funding contribution of up to £221,163 from the 2023/24 council budget, which is due to be finalised in the coming months.
The report also states that Queen of the South’s charitable arm would work with council officers and run the facility on behalf of the authority.
Tennis clubs across Wigtownshire, Stewartry, Nithsdale and Annandale and Eskdale make up the organisation known as Dumfries and Galloway Tennis which is affiliated to Tennis Scotland.
Tennis Scotland identified Dumfries and Galloway as one of six priority areas for investment in the sport. The other areas are Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands and the Borders.
