Organisations will soon be able to apply to run tennis courts across the district with a formal tender process set to open at the end of September.

Warwick District Council's cabinet unanimously approved a plan to change the way local courts are run last December in a bid to stop the facilities losing money.

Among the recommendations approved by cabinet was to start charging for use of the tennis courts in Christchurch Gardens and Abbey Fields and that a Lawn Tennis Association booking and gate access system be introduced at the four venues across the district – including Victoria Park.

And the council has now announced that the tender process will soon begin, with the new arrangements aimed to be in place by Spring 2023.

Funding has also been secured to resurface the courts at Victoria Park, replace the current floodlights with LED lamps and install an online booking and payment system.

VP Tennis, which was originally supposed to operate the courts at Victoria Park until 2026, will now be given six months' notice. The company will be allowed to apply to run the courts under the new system.

WDC has also announced that the tennis courts in Abbey Fields will be closed while the town's swimming pools are knocked down and rebuilt. The council is currently predicting that this will last until Summer 2024.

Cllr Moira-Ann Grainger, portfolio holder for neighbourhood and leisure, said: "We know how much our residents enjoy the availability of grassroots sport in their local community venues, and we want to ensure we can continue to offer everyone the best value that we can, whether they are our up-and-coming stars of the future, or families and friends playing together for leisure, fun and fitness.  

"This tender process provides an opportunity for the council to increase its tennis provision across the district and provides a funding stream to reinvest into maintaining, improving, and securing the long-term future of tennis in this district."

Residents can continue to play tennis, please visit the website for details.