Council opens Harmondsworth's newly renovated tennis courts

The two refitted courts are the last step in the council's £60,000 sports rejuvenation programme, which has seen 15 tennis courts brought back into play for the community. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the government also contributed £181,175 as part of their Parks Tennis Project, to help improve tennis facilities for residents and encourage more people to get active and improve their health and fitness.  

Cllrs Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, and Jane Palmer, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, attended the sunny launch event alongside the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Shehryar Ahmad-Wallana, and 120 children from Harmondsworth Primary. 

For many of the children it was their first time on a tennis court, so coaches set them fun tasks including ball bouncing, running exercises and practising a few racquet skills.  

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Residents' Services said: "It's important that we all have the opportunity to live healthy, active lives and exercise is central to both mental and physical health. We hope our newly refreshed courts will help local people to enjoy this lovely park and more leisure activities, close to home. 

"It was brilliant to see so many local children enjoying our renovated tennis courts. Our partnership with the LTA has helped bring tennis to four of our local parks and we hope it encourages more people to pop along and give tennis a try." 

Headteacher at Harmondsworth Primary, Eleesa Dowding, said: "It's great to see investment in this locality, especially for residents in Harmondsworth and the surrounding area. It's really nice to see something new happening, we feel valued and there's a great opportunity now for people to come and use the courts."  

Working in partnership with the LTA, the council has renovated tennis facilities in four of the borough's parks this year: Rosedale Park, Hayes, Northwood Recreation Ground, Swakeleys Park, Ickenham and Harmondsworth Recreation Ground. Renovations include line painting, replacing fences, new nets, resurfacing courts and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.  

Stuart Andrew MP, Sports Minister, said: "We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation's physical and mental health.

"The Government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment including in Hillingdon.  

"These improved tennis facilities in Harmondsworth Recreation Ground will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu." 

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: "After months of hard work, we're delighted to see park tennis courts across Hillingdon officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever. 

"Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come." 

More information about tennis facilities and training across the borough is available at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/tennis.