Parks' tennis courts to get £120,000 revamp

Six tennis courts across two parks in Peterborough will be improved

A community group has welcomed a funding boost to revamp Peterborough's tennis courts.

The government, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the city council are providing £120,000 to refurbish six public park courts by this summer.

The Friends of Central Park, which will have its four courts refurbished along with two others at Itter Park, said it had been a "long time coming".

Two other unused courts at Central Park will also be turned into basketball courts.

The government and LTA Tennis Foundation granted £100,000 towards the refurb, with the city council giving £20,000.

Its part of a nationwide project to get more people taking up tennis.

The four courts at Central Park will be resurfaced and the two at Itter Park will be re-painted and have new fencing installed.

Smart gates will also be put up at both venues for users to book courts and activities.

The council will partner with a tennis operator to deliver activities across the sites, including free weekly sessions for all ages.

Tony Foster, chair of the Friends of Central Park - who work to make the park welcoming and safe for users - said he was "pleased" with the "much needed" investment.

"I did a walk around the courts with the LTA five years ago, so this funding is a long time coming," Mr Foster said.

"Four of the courts will get a transformation, which will make the sport more accessible to different communities.

"We put in a successful bid to convert two other unused tennis courts into basketball courts, and this has been funded by Living Sport which will hopefully give a variety of sporting activities for people."

Saqib Farooq, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for adults and health, said the authority was "committed" to offering a high standard of public sports facilities.

Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said the association was "delighted" to improve the tennis facilities, to "provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active".