Courts revamp works to begin

NETBALL AND TENNIS UPGRADE WAS DELAYED BY PANDEMIC

COVID-19-HIT works to transform outdoor sports in Bedworth’s biggest park are due to start next month.

The plans to revamp tennis courts and netball courts in the Miners Welfare Park were delayed due to the pandemic.

But now, with a contractor on board, the works are due to finally get under way in April and are set to be finished by June.

Once finished, there will be three refurbished tennis courts and two netball courts to Netball England standard for playing competitive league matches.

Bedworth Sports Club secured cash from Sport England, alongside funds from both Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council, to pay for the works.

It was one of the ambitions of the late Bedworth councillor Richard

Chattaway to see sports provision in the park improved further.

As well as the courts being resurfaced, there will be new fencing around the courts, higher ‘ball stop’ fencing on the cricket side and a new coded gate funded via the Lawn Tennis Association for pay as you go.

There are also plans for floodlights as part of the project.

Ivor Richards, club chairman of Bedworth Sports Club, said: “This refurbishment is going to enhance the sporting opportunities for club members and the public.

“With the floodlighting it will allow for more people to utilise the facility for longer even as the nights draw in.”

Cllr Ian Lloyd, the council’s cabinet member for arts and leisure at the borough council, added: “This is another example of a great collaboration between organisations to ensure we can provide the highest quality facilities as possible within the borough for our residents.’’