Tennis courts in West Kirby and Meols are being upgraded as part of a borough-wide improvement programme, but charges are also set to be introduced in a shake-up which Wirral Council says will improve participation in the game.
The local authority has been awarded money by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The funding is being used to install a gate access system at 12 courts, including Ashton Park and Meols Parade Gardens. In addition, the courts at Ashton Park will be washed and repainted, while Meols Parade Gardens will get new fencing.
However, it is also being recommended an external operator with relevant expertise is brought in to run courts across Wirral, and run a programme of activity to drive up participation in the game. It will save the council an estimated £54,000 per year.
Ashton Park currently has 292 users, with 414 playing at Meols Parade Gardens.
It is estimated that an operator would charge £4 per hour for pay and play, or £35 for an annual season ticket. Those on low incomes or certain benefits would not have to pay.
A report to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee states: “In October 2021 the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the LTA announced a funding pot of £28 million that will see public park tennis courts in very poor or unplayable condition brought back into life for the benefit of the community.
“Of this total sum, grant funding of £280k has now been provided to Wirral Council to improve park courts across the Borough.
“This new tennis delivery model for parks will increase tennis participation, improve the quality of more park courts across the borough and drive an income which contributes significantly to ensuring self-sustainability and significantly less reliance on capital and revenue investment from reducing Council budgets.”
Other options considered but not recommended for approval are to continue with free of charge – which would cost the council an estimated £54,000 a year, or for those in better off areas to charge in order to subsidise those in more deprived parts of Wirral.
The improvement work on the courts is set to be completed by the end of next month.
The report will be considered by the Committee on Monday 19 June.
