Hastings Borough Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) last week announced a partnership to renovate six tennis courts in Alexandra Park at a cost of just under £100,000.

The money is being provided as 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, with the aim of “opening up the sport to many more people”. It is claimed that park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, particularly critical to opening up the sport to “those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls”.

Alongside the investment, Hastings Borough Council “and local tennis providers” will also work with the LTA to deliver a range of activity across the park sites. This will include weekly-organised free 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. Both for these sessions and otherwise, the courts will be available to book online via an LTA website.

Existing clubs Amherst in Hastings and The Green in St Leonards, which already offer generous membership terms and extensive coaching to juniors, are not involved in the renovation of the park courts. But Peter Farthing, head coach at Amherst, believes it’s positive news for tennis in Hastings. “The more merrier,” he said. “It’s great to have a route into tennis via park courts – just as it was in the past. Then, as beginners improve, and seek better quality surfaces and more coaching, the clubs are there to provide them.

Work is due to start on Monday 3 April and be completed by the summer.

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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sport.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sport.jpgHIPSportTennisAlexandra Park,Amherst LTC,amherst tennis club,Hastings Borough Council,Lawn Tennis Association,renovate,The Green in St Leonards Hastings Borough Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) last week announced a partnership to renovate six tennis courts in Alexandra Park at a cost of just under £100,000. The money is being provided as part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper