WITH Wimbledon on the horizon on June 27, an East Lancashire local authority is considering the future of its dilapidated tennis courts.

Burnley Council has been offered £66,300 by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to upgrade its 11 free playing areas in August and September.

But to get the cash it will have to impose charges at certain times.

A report on the new regime will be considered by the authority's scrutiny committee on Wednesday before going to its executive on June 14.

The council currently manages 11 courts at Queen’s Park, Park Road Padiham, Scott Park and Ightenhill Park.

The courts are not bookable and are free to use.

The LTA has surveyed the courts and identified that £66,300 is needed to bring all the courts up to a good standard.

The upgrade is a mixture of resurfacing, repainting, new posts/nets, and replacement of existing gates which will allow a new entry system and the introduction of playing charges.

The draft plan recommends the council continues to offer free use at certain times each day, with a fee to use the courts at other times.

Cllr Maggie Lishman, the council’s health and wellbeing boss, said: “We’re planning to continue to have some free use as well as keeping any charge as low as possible.

"That way, tennis facilities stay accessible to everyone whilst, at the same time, making sure there is funding to keep the standard of the courts good.

“By doing this we will also be able to access LTA funding to improve the quality of our courts.

"Similar changes elsewhere in the country have seen an increase in the number of people playing tennis.”

Under the plan access would be managed by lockable gates with an online booking system which allows people to turn up knowing a court is available rather than in use.

Burnley Leisure would manage the booking system and provide coaching sessions.

For those sessions which are not free, fee would be £3 per session, with a season ticket costing £35 usable at all four parks.

Free play would remain at all sites on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to noon (apart from Bank Holidays); Fridays between 5pm and 9pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 11am with an hour 30 minutes maximum time limit.

The money raised would be used to cover running costs.