Park tennis courts' summer closure 'badly timed'

A pickleball club playing on tennis courts in Greenhead Park, Huddersfield

Users of public tennis courts that will close during the summer months for refurbishment have called the decision "badly timed".

Kirklees Council has said the closure of 19 courts in its parks across the district in July and August was dictated by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which has funded the improvements.

The LTA said it wanted the work finished as quickly as possible, but players who spoke to the BBC pointed out that the courts would be out of use during the main season for the sport.

Tennis has traditionally enjoyed a surge in popularity and participation after the Wimbledon Championships, which ended on 14 July.

At Wilton Park in Batley, two of the four courts due to be shut until late September were missing their nets and the general condition of the playing surfaces was poor.

Retired carpet fitter Martin Woods, 68, regularly walks in the park for exercise, and said the facilities were a "disgrace".

"They might as well shut them because they are a disgrace.

"The nets are broken, there's dog muck all over the place; it has just gone down the rattlers, this park."

Mr Woods welcomed news of improvements to the tennis courts at Wilton Park

A member of staff at the park's café said the courts were "definitely" in need of a makeover, but did admit that closing them could harm trade, especially with the summer holidays approaching.

As well as ripped nets, the line markings on the courts had faded and there were numerous holes in the fences.

Kirklees Council said contractors would improve the playing surfaces, repaint markings, install new nets and make fence repairs.

The tennis courts at Wilton Park are in a sorry state

In Huddersfield, all six courts in sun-soaked Greenhead Park were in use when the BBC visited.

Among those playing were the 20 members of the Pickleball Huddersfield club, a group consisting mainly of retirees looking to stay fit and active.

Pickleball is a version of the sport played on a smaller court with paddle-style bats and a plastic ball, and is accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

The club uses the free courts at the park every Thursday from May until September.

"It's the older age group that are going to be turfed off now," said 82-year-old pickleballer Eileen Stubbs.

"A councillor ought to step in and sort it out."

Ms Stubbs, from Thurstonland, said the club had also been told they would need to pay to use the courts once the improvements were complete.

"They should be free to use; this is the only amenity in the park we are going to have to pay for," she added.

Eileen Stubbs has criticised the decision to close tennis courts over summer

Mark Chamberlain, a retired primary school teacher who took up pickleball to keep fit and lose weight, said the closure was "really badly timed".

"It's the school summer holidays coming up, Wimbledon has just been on and everyone is really keyed in to play," he added.

Despite the courts in Batley having fallen into disrepair, Mr Chamberlain said the ones the pickleball club in Huddersfield used were "fine".

Mark Chamberlain says the condition of the courts in Huddersfield was "fine"

Parents using the courts with their children also expressed disappointment.

Wimbledon fever had gripped Amy Johnson's sons Joshua, 10, and Alfie, six, and she hailed the "fantastic" free courts.

"Especially when the weather is nice, it's just easy to get them out and get them off their iPads and away from the TV.

"It's a shame that we won't be able to come and use them.

"I was planning to come down more in the holidays with other friends that have finished school as well."

Ms Johnson added: "Timing-wise it's not great. We have only just started using them, they will be gutted."

Amy Johnson (centre) says her children will be "gutted" about the closure

Kirklees Council has been approached for comment.

Other courts that will be closed in the borough over summer include those at Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury and Firth Park in Heckmondwike.

The LTA said it had worked with local authorities across the UK to invest in “transforming thousands of park tennis courts”.

“We’ve been working with Kirklees Council for a number of years to secure agreement for the transformation of tennis courts across four parks in the local area. Given that this is a nationwide project which is being delivered within a short timeframe, works around the country are scheduled throughout the year, to ensure that we are able to impact as many facilities as possible, as quickly as possible.

“The renovated facilities will help open tennis up to more people across the local community for many years to come.”

The work will take place on the following dates:-

Wilton Park 15 July – 20 September

Crow Nest Park 15 July – 20 September

Greenhead Park 22 July – 23 August

Firth Park 29 July – 23 August

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