Fears for centre LTA calls for more Government aid
THE LTA has warned that at least a third of Community Indoor Tennis Centres (CITCS) – like the facility in Gloucester – could face closure despite the recent Government announcement of a £100m investment in public leisure facilities.
The national governing body for tennis in Great Britain supports a network of 54 CITCS across the country, including Oxstalls Sports Park Tennis Centre, and has reiterated the urgent need for more comprehensive support through a Sports Recovery Fund to protect jobs and safeguard tennis facilities during the coming months.
The new lockdown measures now mean that all activity at the centre is on hold until at least December 2.
The centres deliver a range of tennis activity to local communities across the country, offering extensive junior programmes and hosting activity as part of the LTA’S Open Court disability programme.
They are also crucial in helping to provide opportunities for people to participate in the sport and enjoy its health and wellbeing benefits, yearround. The majority of all centres are operated by a leisure trust or operator on behalf of a local authority.
Oxstalls Sports Park Indoor Tennis Centre is operated by Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust, and is a hub for competitions, disability coaching and competitions and local player development.
Despite being allowed to re-open in July and August, most have continued to operate at a loss with operators taking a cautious approach and minimum staff returning from furlough.
These losses will continue while restrictions remain in place and as new restrictions are introduced – even accounting for any support received through the Government’s £100m investment.
Additional support for tennis facilities is particularly important in areas where revenue is being further impacted by the latest national restrictions.
The threat to CITCS follows a summer in which tennis participation soared with the most recent figures showing a seven per cent like for like increase on the previous year.
Sharon Heeley, LTA Head of Region for South & South West, said: “Facilities like Oxstalls Sports Park Tennis Centre play a pivotal role in supporting mental and physical health among people of a range of ages, abilities and disabilities.
“We have been delighted with the increase in participation in our sport this summer, but are very concerned about the future of Community Indoor Tennis Centres that are so crucial to helping open up the sport to more people all year round. While we welcome the recent Government announcement regarding investment into public leisure, this money will be spread thinly across a huge range of publicly owned sport and leisure facilities.
The current restrictions across Britain still mean the number of people who can use these centres is significantly less than in normal circumstances, which will continue to have a huge impact on their financial viability as we move into a difficult winter.
“We are calling for Government to deliver a Sports Recovery Fund, which is urgently needed to help protect these facilities over the coming months.”