Tennis changes serve up debate
ROYAL BOROUGH: The council’s cabinet voted to go full steam ahead with proposed changes to the borough’s tennis courts last week– despite opposition concerns.
The proposals are to secure grant funding to modernise tennis courts at four parks in Windsor and Maidenhead – Kidwells Park, Desborough Park, Oaken Grove and Goswells Park/Alexandra Gardens.
The investment (potentially around £110,000) will be used to upgrade 10 hard surface courts where there is ‘identified demand and potential for improvement.’
The aim is to ‘bring the courts up to a standard worth playing in’. It is part of a national project to get one million more people nationwide playing tennis by 2024.
Work is scheduled to start in the autumn, subject to finalising the funding agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
“This may well encourage us to identify a Wimbledon champion at some point in the future,” said Cllr Ross McWilliams, cabinet member for sport and leisure, at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, August 26.
But concerns were raised around the access-controlled entry gates with an online booking system.
Cllr Jon Davey (Ind, Clewer & Dedworth West) said he conducted a quick survey the night before cabinet and received 40 responses – 90 per cent of which were ‘not keen’ on this change.
“It pushes people away who would otherwise use the facilities,” Cllr Davey said.
“There are two professional clubs in Windsor where you pay an annual membership. The courts in the centre of town are for people who want to randomly play a game of tennis.”
Mike Piggford from the LTA told the council that similar facilities in Reading and Wokingham showed that the access-controlled gates were actually increasing usage.
Cllr David Hilton (Con, Ascot & Sunninghill) felt that the ability to book courts may encourage more people to visit because they know they have a slot, rather than turning up and being disappointed.
As such, Cllr McWilliams was adamant that the changes were ‘welcoming people in, not shutting them out’.
The cabinet voted unanimously in favour of the officer report’s recommendation to continue discussions with the LTA to obtain funding to improve tennis court facilities.