Tennis courts across the Wirral could benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds if a plan is approved in the autumn.
36 tennis courts across 12 sites could benefit from £300,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association and the government. The council hopes to approve the investment in the autumn.
Wirral Council said the money had the “aim of bringing and retaining public tennis courts to a good standard of playability for the benefit of local communities.” It said the money would secure the future of the sport as well as encourage people to play tennis.
READ MORE: Denise Lewis sends Paris Olympics message to Katarina Johnson-Thompson following Commonwealth gold
Cllr Helen Cameron, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for Wirral Council, said: “This investment in community tennis is very welcome. It will ensure local facilities can be brought up to a good standard and allow us to implement better ways of developing the sport in Wirral.
“This will attract more players to the game and ultimately help make the facilities sustainable in the long-term.
“Improving the environment and creating new opportunities for people to use our amazing parks and open spaces more often is a key part of Wirral’s new Sport and Physical Activity Strategy.
“It is also closely linked to the priorities in the Wirral Plan 2026 to encourage people to lead active and healthy lives and create safer and more pleasant communities.”
Wirral Council said it will work to introduce a new management system and hopes that will increase participation, engage with communities, and keep tennis affordable and accessible.
New gates will be installed at each court that will be linked to a booking system. Any courts in bad shape will be resurfaced and improved.
The full list of sites are:
Arrowe Park
Ashton Park, West Kirby
Birkenhead Park
Coronation Park, Greasby
Harrison Park, Wallasey
Higher Bebington Park
Irby Park
Marine Park, New Brighton
Meols Parade Gardens
New Ferry Park
Saughall Grange
Torr Park, Eastham
READ MORE: Merseyrail services to be cut back at two stations to 'reduce disruption'
'Toxic' issue that is dividing Merseyside town
Foodbank staff now relying on donations themselves as bills rise