Beacon Park tennis courts
Beacon Park tennis courts

A report has recommended council-owned tennis courts are leased out to a not-for-profit group to manage and maintain for the next 20 years.

Beacon Park tennis courts
Beacon Park tennis courts

Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet will decide whether or not to approve the move to hand over the facility to the Beacon Park Tennis charitable incorporated organisation at a meeting next week.

A report by Cllr Liz Little, Cabinet member for leisure, has recommended the proposal is approved.

“Beacon Park Tennis are aiming to provide the local community and surrounding areas with a  first class tennis and netball facility by creating a professional and safer playing surface that will attract more players, including families and visitors,” Cllr Little’s report explains.

“The project is aiming to raise sufficient funds to resurface Lichfield’s four public tennis courts which are used for tennis, netball and school PE, and add floodlighting to extend play throughout the year.

“The total regeneration project will cost £208,000 and Beacon Park Tennis have already secured this in donations and funding from organisations such as the Lawn Tennis Association and Sport England.

“The project has a sustainable business plan, generating revenue from pay as you go usage, school bookings and annual passes, as well as a regular income stream from the Spires Netball Club.

“Their projects demonstrate that they will have sufficient funds in ten years’ time to cover the costs of future resurfacing work.”

“Deteriorating for some time”

A planning application has already been submitted by the organisation to Lichfield District Council, with work needing to start in 2019 with estimates suggesting the current playing surface will not last for another 12 months.

Cllr Little adds: “Beacon Park has featured tennis courts in one way or another for over 80 years.

“The current facility’s condition has been deteriorating for some time, and in 2014 was subject to a quick fix to extend the lifespan of the courts for a few more years.

“The council’s health and safety managers inspected the courts and determined that without some form of remediation the courts will soon become unplayable and will need to be closed.”

The report will be debated at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet on 10th September.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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AnnS
4 years ago

Another example of incompetent management as yet another leisure facility has been neglected by LDC. One wonders if they are working towards abdicating all provision for healthier lifestyles within the community and we know all too well what happens to services when responsibility is out-sourced. Friary Grange Leisure Centre being a case in point. And just who are this so called charity?

Steve
4 years ago

The phrase Not for Profit, is one I hate.

I have worked for one of these organisations in the past. It was a cash cow for friends and relatives who came in and did consultancy work at exorbitant rates.

80% of the employees were related or close friends. It was the only place I have ever seen people get a hug and a kiss when they came for an interview.

Mike
4 years ago

Lichfield seems to be a synamin for no maintenance.