Bitts Park indoor tennis

Work due to start on Bitts Park air dome tennis courts

Work is set to start on a new undercover tennis court scheme in Bitts Park.

Plans to construct four new Bitts Park tennis courts, including an air dome covering two of the courts, have been given the go-ahead by Carlisle City Council and will start later this week.

The £280,000 project has been made possible after £125,000 funding from the Lawn Tennis Association and partner funding agreements was secured.

A commemorative 'sod cutting' will be held this Thursday (23 August) at 11.15am and will include representatives from Carlisle City Council, Carlisle Leisure Limited and Border Construction - who are undertaking the work.

The site will be fenced and secured this week, with groundworks expected to start during the same period. The project is expected to take around 16 weeks.

Cllr Ray Knapton, Portfolio holder for Community Engagement said:

The existing grass tennis courts are popular but their use is limited over the winter months, due to adverse weather. The plans to install the new courts will enhance the tennis provision and provide an opportunity for coaching and development of young people.

Bitts Park tennis courts currently host the City Tennis Club a joint partnership between the Council, the Lawn Tennis Association and Carlisle Leisure Limited. It provides a comprehensive junior coaching programme in line with the Lawn Tennis Association's national junior club development programme and enjoyed success in winning the 2005 National finals at the City Tennis Clubs tournament.

The four new hard courts would replace the flood-damaged grass courts and will be floodlit. An undercover air dome would cover two of the courts to allow indoor tennis to take place. This would be erected between September to April each year.