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Park tennis courts reopen after renovation
Park tennis courts across the borough of Burnley have been officially reopened after a £58,860 renovation, managed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and funded by the UK Government, the LTA Tennis Foundation and Burnley Council.
Tennis courts in Scott Park, which are among those to have benefited from this investment, hosted a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Raja Arif Khan, local MP Antony Higginbotham, council leader Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, council greenspaces officers and representatives from Burnley Tennis Club, along with staff from the LTA. There was an opportunity for people from the local community to pick up a racket and get on court for a range of tennis sessions.
Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain, including 11 courts across the borough, providing a significant boost to sporting facilities.
The courts at Scott Park and Memorial Park have undergone extensive work to ensure viability for years to come, including resurfacing, repainting and line marking, new nets and posts and new gate access systems. New gate access systems have also been installed at Ightenhill Park and Queen’s Park.
This nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
As well as weekly free park tennis sessions, with equipment provided, the new courts will host local tennis leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.
All courts will be available to book via the LTA website. New booking systems and gate access technology means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability. There are two options when booking a court – pay and play at £3 an hour, or you can buy a season ticket which is £35 for the year for up to five people per household. With this, you can play at any of the four sites throughout the year. These small fees will ensure that the courts are maintained at their new high standard for years to come.
The LTA and Burnley Council will work together to ensure free park tennis sessions are available on the courts providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play
Kieron Roberts, the council’s parks development manager, said: “There are also times during the week when it is free to play although you still need to book online to get a code at all four parks sites.”
These are:
- Monday to Friday 8am-noon
- Fridays only 5pm-9pm
- Weekends 8am-11am
Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts across Burnley officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.
“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”
Stuart Andrew MP, Sports Minister, said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health. The Government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment, including in Burnley.
“These improved tennis facilities in Burnley will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu.”
Post expires at 9:38am on Wednesday September 20th, 2023
