Indoor tennis will return to a sports centre in Wirral after previous proposals by the council to close three of the courts were scrapped.
A partnership between Wirral Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) will see all six indoor tennis courts at the Wirral Tennis and Sports Centre reopen this autumn.
Playpoint Point Sports will assume operation of tennis at the centre with a new programme targeted at people of different ages and abilities. The council says this is aimed at beginners as well as those who would play county level and beyond.
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A disability programme will also be coming to the centre soon with the aim to include everyone in Wirral in getting active through tennis.
The plans to close all the tennis courts from April with half to be closed permanently after that were controversial with local Liberal Democrat councillors opposed and a petition started.
They were part of £20m cuts voted through in February and would have been replaced with an “extensive” soft play and gymnastics facilities.
At a Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure committee meeting in June, the decision was made that indoor tennis could come back at the sports centre with a new operation model. The council then entered discussions with the LTA to take over and manage the courts in Bidston.
Liberal Democrat councillor Allan Brame said: “This is great news and a vindication of the stance the Liberal Democrat group took this year.
“We argued strongly against the proposals to close half the indoor tennis courts at the Bidston centre. Leaving just three courts would have reduced the potential for staging significant tournaments on Wirral.
“I am delighted that we have achieved a positive outcome and that this great facility has been retained for tennis players of all abilities. My thanks to the council officers who worked so hard to complete this arrangement.”
Councillor Helen Cameron, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee added: “With no other indoor courts available on Wirral the facility will offer the tennis community an opportunity to extend their playing season throughout winter season.
“Both the council and LTA hope that this partnership will be the first step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of a full tennis offer on the site.”
The rest of the centre is currently being redeveloped and is still closed. It is expected to be completed in April 2023. Most of the centre’s indoor space will be redesigned as well as upgrades to the gym and fitness studio.
A second full size artificial 3G Astroturf football pitch will also be built at the site through a partnership with The Football Foundation.
Anyone wishing to book a court or lessons can do so through the operator’s website.
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