Council to revamp tennis courts

Free to use tennis courts in Gloucester are due to get a revamp next month. Gloucester City Council chiefs say repair work is due to go ahead at the tennis courts at the Oval in Linden.

Civic chiefs had been in talks with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) about revamping the facility but their proposals included setting up a booking system and charging people to play.

This was strongly opposed by Labour councillors who raised serious concerns about the pay-to-play proposals from the outset.

A survey found that most people opposed the proposals and in the summer council leaders ruled out charging to play.

Instead, council leaders are understood to be using around £30,000 to £35,000 of developer contribution funds to resurface the courts and install new fences.

Culture and leisure cabinet member Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale) gave an update about the project at a council meeting on January 26.

He thanked Cllr Lyn Ackroyd (C, Moreland) for her help in getting out there speaking to people in the area.

“We thought that it is right now not to charge people for it. It would be wrong to say pay and play. That’s not what it’s there for,” he said.

“We don’t want people to have to book in advance. We want people to get the tennis rackets out and go down there.

“The vital thing is the leg work of getting the people’s opinion. This is where Cllr Lyn Ackroyd came in really strongly. We were swayed by public opinion.

“With the cost of living crisis there is no way we could charge the public for using a facility that has been there for donkey’s years.”

Council leaders said they had hoped for work to start today (January 30) but it was delayed due to the recent cold weather.

However, the project will take up to two weeks to complete and should be finished in February.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk