Grantham Park tennis courts to be refurbished with £57,000 funding

Two tennis courts in a park in Grantham will be saved from closure thanks to a £57,000 grant from the Lawn Tennis Association.

South Kesteven District Council cabinet members agreed to accept the funding at a meeting this afternoon (Tuesday).

The council will also enter into an agreement with the Grantham Tennis Club which will take over the management and operation of the courts under a 15-year lease.

The council will provide a sum of £8,428 to cover the first three-year contribution to the sinking fund and maintenance of the court gates.

It is hoped that funds will be made available in the future to renovate the Dysart Park pitch as well.

A report to Cabinet said the three courts are “underutilized and in need of refurbishment due to their age and condition”.

He added: “The two courts at Wyndham Park are of greatest concern and without intervention it will be necessary to close them as further deterioration of court surfaces will lead to health and safety concerns in relation to the risk of slips. , stumbles , and falls.”

The funding will cover the costs of improving the pitch surface, new netting and fencing and the installation of a smart access barrier system.

Cabinet Chairman Councilor Kelham Cooke said funding for the courts was “fantastic news”.

He said: “Having two state-of-the-art community access tennis courts with 100% funding is fantastic news and is much needed to replace the current courts which are at the end of their life cycle.”

Councilor Adam Stokes told the meeting: “As councilor for the county which covers this area I am obviously delighted that we are getting this investment from the Lawn Tennis Association.

“It will definitely improve the facilities at the park and hopefully in the future we can also do Dysart Park as I know they are in a state but this is great news and it costs the taxpayers nothing . from Grantham any extra money, so I’m delighted.”

Councilor Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, Cabinet Member for Culture and the Visitor Economy, told the meeting that the Grantham Tennis Club would encourage the use of the tennis courts at Wyndham Park and the Tennis for Free program in which residents can participate in free coaching sessions.