Neglected tennis court 'puts Brierfield to shame'

Sherif Dhaimish, 24, said the courts at Heyhead Park, off Halifax Road, Brierfield, were often littered with glass and dog dirt.

He has urged Pendle Council, which owns the courts, to take better care of the venue to encourage more players to use it instead of visiting courts in neighbouring Burnley.

Mr Dhaimish, of Woodfield Terrace, who spends much of his time working away from home for a television company, said the decline of the courts’ condition had been noticeable on his visits back to Brierfield.

He said: “I have played tennis there since I was a child. The courts were relatively nice, clean and accessible to everyone.

“Now the courts do not resemble those times. The net is droopy and tattered, while the surface has created a minefield of holes, often sending the ball coursing in the opposite direction. Anyone with a car and a desire play would go to Queen’s Park in Burnley, as the facilities are far better, putting Brierfield to shame.

“Andy Murray’s victory at Wimbledon has inspired kids to play tennis, and it is nice to see children walking towards the park wavering their rackets around.

“But when they arrive at the glass-ridden courts on Heyhead, it’s disappointment all round.

“Maybe the council could focus on facilities for youth. There are a lot of bored kids in the town and that’s why there is a problem with petty crime and drugs.”

Kieron Roberts, service development officer for parks and recreation at Pendle Council, said: “We’re sorry to hear Mr Dhaimish’s dissatisfaction with the tennis courts in Heyhead Park.

“We’d love to be able to refurbish them, as well as those at Alkincoats and Marsden parks, but we simply do not have the resources at present.

“The park and its tennis courts are currently litter-picked twice a week.

“We would also respond to reports from local people of broken glass and so on by arranging additional cleansing visits as necessary.”