Blaenau Gwent Council and the LTA are working in partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in the borough.
A park tennis venue has been renovated in Six Bells, Abertillery, with investment of £37,516.70 helping to ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.
The project is part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open up the sport to many more people. This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.
Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to opening up the sport to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls.
In addition to investment of £35,016.70 from the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, £2,500 will also be invested Blaenau Gwent Council.
Alongside the investment, the Council will also work with Tennis Wales and the LTA to deliver a range of activity across the park sites. This will include weekly organised free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience where equipment is provided, meaning that people will not need someone to play with or their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.
The park venue that has been renovated is Six Bells in Abertillery, whilst Bedwellty Park in Tredegar will also be available to book online including via the LTA website making it far easier to find and book a court or activity.
Cllr Helen Cunningham Cabinet Member for Place and Environment at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said:
“We are very grateful to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and local community groups for their support in improving the Six Bells Park tennis courts. This refurbishment will provide opportunities for the local and wider community to play tennis no matter at what level and at top quality facilities.”
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active.
“This investment is part of the UK Government and LTA’s Parks Tennis Project, and will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court, and open up our sport to many more people.”
