· Nine park tennis courts across multiple parks reopened earlier this year after renovations managed by the LTA and funded by UK Government, LTA Tennis Foundation and West Lothian Council
· Part of biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain, with millions going towards transforming thousands of courts
Park tennis courts in West Lothian have reopened after a £107,938 renovation, managed by the LTA, and funded by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation and West Lothian Council.
Tennis courts in Ladywell Park, Kirkton Park and Broxburn Park are among those to have benefited from this investment. The three tennis sites have undergone extensive work with major work taking place in Broxburn to create three brand new courts after the resurfacing of an old site. Other work has included surface cleaning, painting and the installation of new smart gate systems.
This nationwide £30million investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
West Lothian Council contributed £11,000 towards the total investment, with the remaining £96,939 funds coming the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation grant.
The LTA and West Lothian Council will work together to ensure free park tennis sessions are available on the courts providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play. The new courts will also host Local Tennis Leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.
All courts are available to book online via the LTA Play Tennis website. The new gate access and online booking system means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability.
Both public pay and play and annual memberships options are available to players. A new lower charge has been introduced for junior tennis, with under 18's charged £3 per court. Those looking to play regularly can take advantage of the new annual household membership that allows the whole family to play for £82.80. More information on this can be found at: clubspark.lta.org.uk/WestLothianParksTennis
Fees raised from will go towards the maintenance of the courts and a sink fund to ensure that the courts are can be maintained to a high standard for years to come.
Investment into parks is one way in which the LTA is working to open tennis up across Scotland, in partnership with Tennis Scotland. The LTA, Tennis Scotland and sportscotland are also delivering the £15million Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis fund to provide more year-round community accessible tennis provision, including the development of new indoor facilities in Oriam and Moray which are currently underway.
Following the hosting of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Regional Finals in Glasgow last year, which were both attended by hundreds of school children, work is ongoing to significantly increase the number of young people who have the opportunity to pick up a racket at school, through the LTA Youth programme.
Executive councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment & Wealth Building, Kirsteen Sullivan said:
"The support from the LTA has been most welcome in Broxburn, Bathgate and Livingston. Sport can play a transformative role in our lives with countless physical and mental benefits and the new courts will hopefully encourage many budding tennis players to pick up a racket for the first time."
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said:
"After months of hard work, we're delighted to see park tennis courts across West Lothian officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.
"Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come."
Stuart Andrew MP, Sports Minister, said:
"We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation's physical and mental health.
"The Government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment including in West Lothian.
"These improved tennis facilities in West Lothian will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu."
