Wirral Council is to accept a grant worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from tennis’ governing body to upgrade its courts weeks after the organisation pledged to protect the sport’s long term future.
Last month, it had been anticipated the local authority would sign off on proposals to permanently close Wirral Tennis and Sports Centre (WTSC) in Birkenhead in a bid to save the council much needed cash. However, the council’s tennis provision was given a stay of execution after the sport’s governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), agreed to underwrite funding for the service and work with Wirral Council to appoint an operator to exclusively manage the six indoor courts and three outdoor courts.
Now, the LTA is providing Wirral Council with a capital grant funding pot of £300,000 for tennis court improvement works across Wirral, including operating models for the future management and maintenance of the courts, subject to councillors’ approval next week. A consultation was launched on the future of WTSC to which the LTA expressed concern at the proposed closure of three out of the six indoor tennis courts at the site. As a result, the governing body devised a package that will both deliver the required level of saving at the site together with a wider package of investment funding on Wirral both at WTSC and in outdoor courts across the borough.
