Budding tennis stars have been served a major boost as more than £300,000 is set aside to transform run-down courts in Renfrewshire.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) will offer the local authority £129,960 to refurbish and develop the sport at Robertson Park in Renfrew, £18,090 for Brodie Park in Paisley, and £155,500 for Park Road in Johnstone.
The awards were confirmed in a report to this Wednesday’s leadership board, which said the agreement at Park Road is subject to the council contributing £17,000 towards the project, as well as funding wall repairs.
The announcement is a lift for Johnstone politicians in particular, who have voiced their frustrations over the dilapidated state of the Park Road courts.
Councillor Andy Steel, an SNP rep for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “I have been lobbying for investment in the tennis courts since I was first elected in 2017 and it has often felt like banging my head against a brick wall, so I am delighted to see the LTA award this funding for Johnstone.
“My initial reaction was ‘you cannot be serious’, but a tarmac surface rather than blaes is a massive step forward. I hope it will give the area a new lease on life.”
Councillor Iain McMillan, a Labour rep for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “For far too long these courts have been left abandoned.
“This grant will bring tennis back to the town and I am pleased free tennis will be available for much of the time that the courts are open.
“Like many Johnstone people, I have fond memories of playing tennis there as a youngster and it’s great to know players of all ages will now have the same opportunity I did.”
The aim of the investment – a venture from the LTA Tennis Foundation and UK Government, delivered by the LTA – is to bring park courts in either poor or unplayable condition back to life for the benefit of the community, as well as making it easier to find and book a facility.
Courts at Robertson Park and Park Road will have a red blaes surface replaced with tarmac, which the report said will secure “good playing” conditions for tennis for between 20 and 30 years.
Brodie Park already has tarmac but will have “minor repairs” carried out.
OneRen, the trust delivering leisure and sport on behalf of the council, will take responsibility for booking, coaching programmes and sports development arrangements for the facilities once the renovation works are complete.
The courts will have three play options, including free play, occasional booking charges and annual memberships – £100 for an adult membership and £50 for those under the age of 18.
The cost of booking at chargeable times will be £8.50 per hour but a membership will provide access with no hourly fee attached.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, an SNP rep for Renfrew North and Braehead, who is also chair of OneRen, was “delighted” to see just shy of £130,000 earmarked for the courts at Robertson Park.
She added: “I’ve been working with officers on this for over 18 months, they have done a power of work for this funding and support from Gavin Newlands MP has been really helpful.”
Councillors will be asked to approve the rates at Wednesday’s meeting.
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