Julian has welcomed the news that 1,000 public tennis courts have now been refurbished as part of a £30 million programme of investment, including 3 courts at Ripon Spa Park.
This news on the joint venture between the Government and Lawn Tennis Association comes on the eve of the Wimbledon Championships and a surge in grassroots participation.
The £30 million package, which has seen £21.6 million committed by the Government and £8.4 million by the Lawn Tennis Association, is the most significant investment in grassroots tennis for a generation.
In total, it will deliver vital upgrades to over 3,000 tennis courts across the UK by 2025, with the aim of attracting half a million more players every year. Each refurbishment will also include access to the Lawn Tennis Association online booking system, as well as digital access gates.
The Lawn Tennis Association has already announced an increase by 43 per cent of adults playing tennis during 2022, to 4.7 million, and a rise to 3.6 million children playing annually. Notably, there has also been a significant growth in women’s participation, up 34 per cent, and that of 16–34-year-olds, up 48 per cent.
This package comes on top of the £300 million investment in rolling-out or refurbishing multi-sport facilities across the UK between 2021-2025, and a £60 million fund for local swimming pools.
