Inverclyde Leisure serves up successful bid for tennis courts cash
Inverclyde Leisure has served an ace in its efforts to win £850,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Tennis Scotland and sportscotland.
The cash is for a £1.3million, state-of-the-art, tennis facility at Rankin Park, Greenock. The proposed facility would have three LTA approved tennis courts, a small soft play area, a gym and a self-service café.
Inverclyde Council has said it will contribute the remaining £500,000 for the project.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Convener of Inverclyde Council’s Education & Communities Committee, said, “This isn’t quite game, set and match yet. Late last year Inverclyde Leisure put in a Stage 1 bid. The Lawn Tennis Association has now confirmed that that bid has been approved and has invited Inverclyde Leisure to submit a Stage 2 bid.
“The Stage 2 bid is a much more complicated document and includes: a business case, a community tennis network plan, project costings and other technical information. But, if we get this one over the net, who knows, the next Andy Murray might be from Greenock!”
David McCorkindale, Inverclyde Leisure’s Head of Leisure & Community Facilities, said, “The Stage 2 bid is the final step in the application process and will be submitted over the next few months and if agreed we would hope the project will start later this year. Inverclyde Leisure believes the indoor centre will be a great community asset and a fantastic opportunity to develop tennis in Inverclyde.”
Inverclyde Leisure is the council's arms-length, leisure trust.