Improvement works have started on tennis courts at Sutton Lawn and Huthwaite Welfare Park as part of plans to serve a £214,000 investment into the facilities.

Ashfield District Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) are working together on the project, which will see eight tennis courts resurfaced and coloured, as well as new fencing and access gates installed.

The council will be investing £55,000 as part of the Green Ashfield initiative, funded by their £62.6m Towns Deal, to provide new LED floodlighting at Sutton Lawn. This is on top of the investment of over £159,000 from the UK government and LTA Tennis Foundation.

The council is working with Sutton in Ashfield Lawn Tennis Club to upgrade facilities at the park, including the pavilion, to support the club to attract new members.

Coun Jason Zadrozny, leader of the council said: “It will soon be Game, Set and Match for the work being completed. It is fantastic to see the transformation on these tennis courts as we know how much our residents value access to modern, fit-for-purpose sports pitches, courts, and leisure centres. The council remains committed to continuing to provide quality leisure and sports facilities to ensure that our residents can live a healthy and happy life in Ashfield.”

The courts are scheduled to reopen early 2024 with temporary lines in place until a full repainting can take place in the spring once the weather has improved.

The council will also work with an operator and the LTA to deliver a range of activities across the park sites. This will include weekly organised free tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience, where equipment is provided. Tennis leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.

All courts and sessions at Sutton Lawn and Huthwaite Welfare Park will be available to book online via the LTA website https://www.lta.org.uk/play/book-a-tennis-court/. Sessions at Kingsway Park, Kirkby, will also be bookable on the LTA website.

Pictured are councillors Vicki Heslop, Matthew Relf,  Sam Deakin, and Jason Zadrozny at Sutton Lawn tennis courts before the renovation work.