A year ago it was announced that contractors had begun work on a project at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre to install 600 solar panels
and air source heat pumps, with the aim of reducing the council’s overall carbon emissions by more than 25%. The work now appears to be complete. The site looks mostly very smart, particularly the indoor tennis facilities and the four outdoor astroturf courts.
By contrast, the eight outdoor clay courts appear in need of attention. It does prompt questions about whether they are surplus to requirements.
Good that you are drawing attention to the disused outdoor clay courts. They have not been maintained for years and not used for play for many years (someone on here probably knows when they were last playable – I’d guess at least 10 years ago – probably longer). The metal strips that formed the court lines were removed a year or so ago and, I guess dumped or sold for scrap.
I’d be interested in hearing if there are any plans for the area they presently occupy – ‘Better/GLL’ operate the Centre but the courts are, I believe, owned by The Vale of White Horse District Council – I’m guessing renovation or re-purposing would come at a cost that is well beyond the Council so the courts will continue to be an eyesore.
Anyone from VWHDC like to respond?
Can those courts potentially be used for other things, it’s clear that they are not needed for tennis anymore. Eg could they be resurfaced and repainted for, say, pickleball or handball or sports played more into the Autumn and early spring, like 5 a side football etc?
How about some flats?
It’s a shame they couldn’t do the same with the outdoor pool. Solar and a Heat Pump could have meant it would be run for a lot less than it is currently, and potentially open earlier.