Tennis players face payment to use courts
TENNIS players could soon have to pay to play on courts which are currently free.
The tennis courts in Victoria Park in Canton recently had a new gate installed with an electric lock, raising concerns of local players.
An email sent from Tennis Wales, the Welsh arm of the Lawn Tennis Association, claimed they would soon take over running the courts and begin charging players to use them.
However, Tennis Wales and Cardiff council said any changes have not yet been agreed. Any decision would be subject to approval from the council’s cabinet and a local consultation.
Spencer Vignes, a Cardiff-based sports writer and author, said: “I play at Victoria Park quite a lot. The first thing residents knew was when a big security gate was put on the courts.
“Then I was sent this letter from Tennis Wales saying they had signed a sevenyear deal with Cardiff council and they were going to roll it out across Wales.”
The email was sent last year to “regular users” of the Victoria Park courts. In it, Luke Williams, participation development partner at Tennis Wales, stated players could start paying to use the courts as soon as this May.
He wrote: “We are delighted to announce that Tennis Wales has secured a seven-year licence agreement with Cardiff council, in order to take over the management of the tennis courts at Victoria Park to drive greater participation at the venue and grow the sport locally.
“Using our ‘Tennis Wales in the Park’ brand, we aim to transform the delivery of parks tennis in Wales, by providing initiatives and programmes that serve the whole community while ensuring the long-term sustainability of park tennis courts.
“We are delighted to have secured Lawn Tennis Association funding to install the gate access system that will be installed at the park in April 2021, and the
courts will remain free of charge until Tuesday, May 4, during the transition period.”
However, since the electric gate was installed, Tennis Wales has now said no decision has been made yet.
A statement published last week read: “Tennis Wales would like to confirm that currently no decision has been taken on the proposed tennis scheme in Cardiff, and any decision taken going forwards will be subject to a decision by Cardiff council’s cabinet and consultation with local residents.
“Tennis Wales will continue to work with Cardiff council on the future of tennis in the city.”
Changes to running the courts are now “on hold” according to Councillor Stephen Cunnah, who represents the Canton ward.
He wrote on Facebook: “This came as news to me and the other Canton councillors.
“I can confirm any changes to the management of the courts are on hold. Should any proposal from Tennis Wales be worth exploring in the future, it will be consulted on.”
Mr Vignes, who has been writing about tennis for 20 years, said this follows a pattern elsewhere in the UK, including in Newcastle, Brighton and Bristol.
He said: “This is thousands of pounds worth of gear to put in electric gates. Someone knew about this at the council.
“They would not be allowed on council property to do this unless someone had signed it off.”
The email from Tennis Wales hinted other courts could soon follow.
The organisation has already been charging players to use courts at Heath Park since 2019; and has plans to roll it out more widely across Wales as “councils struggle to finance the ongoing costs of maintaining these facilities”.
In the email, Mr Williams added: “Low cost subscriptions will be available to purchase, providing access to Victoria Park and Heath Park initially with a third venue coming shortly in Cardiff.”
Tennis Wales was asked to comment.