As part of the Parish Council’s Corporate Action Plan and wider authorities Mission Statement to promote thriving and healthy communities, works to improve facilities at Lapstone Tennis Courts and to promote the sport were initiated in October 2020. Following consultation, advice and recommendation from the Lawn Tennis Association, members agreed to allocate funding for the project in May 2021 alongside a small grant received from the Lawn Tennis Association. Stipulations of this grant included the application of fees for use of the courts to ensure their longevity for future generations of tennis enthusiasts within the community. We are grateful to the Lawn Tennis Association as this grant has enabled the Council to complete essential works and enhancements to the facilities. In considering what was an appropriate level of charge for the use of the facilities the Council undertook benchmarking with it’s peers and the fee applied is priced at a much lower level than other local providers. The £35 a year cost of an annual family membership means that the whole family can enjoy unlimited play throughout the year for as little at £2.91 a month. Whilst we understand that some residents will be disappointed that this facility is no longer free of charge, it was a condition of the grant and we felt that this was a good opportunity to upgrade the facilities for everyone’s enjoyment.
