THE tennis courts at Pennington Hall Park are due to have a complete makeover after £30,000 of funding has been secured by the council.

Council bosses have green lit the plans to repaint the courts from black to green and blue with new nets, posts and line markings to go with it. With public court availability an issue in the UK, this is something the council is keen to work with the Lawn Tennis Association to resolve.

With Wimbledon just around the corner, this LTA-funded project giving the tired courts at the Leigh park a new lease of life could help inspire the nation’s next tennis champion, it is hoped. This drive was sparked back in 2021 when the Government invested £22 million into public tennis courts across Britain – hailed by the LTA as transformational for the sport.

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Councillor Chris Ready, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “The availability of quality tennis courts is a real issue all across the UK. We’re working with the LTA to invest in our courts at Pennington Hall Park and remove one of the major barriers that prevents more people enjoying the health and social benefits of tennis.”

This comes alongside news that nine park tennis venues in Manchester will be renovated. Manchester City Council announced a recent investment of £483,095 in collaboration with the LTA to help ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.