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Gloucestershire Business News

Economic bounce: tennis club's bid for new clubhouse

A thriving tennis club in the heart of the Cotswolds is hoping to replace its "rickety" clubhouse with a new purpose-built facility - if planners agree to the project.

Minchinhampton Tennis Club, which is based at Stuart Fields, off Minchhampton village's Tobbaconist Road, says it has reached the end of the road with its existing facility and desperately needs to replace it with a new building, which it estimates will set the club back £40,000.

Becky Putnam, Club chairperson, told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "We have some 200 members now, including juniors, and the plan is for a proper timber-frame structure. We have coped for too long with the old shed, which was frankly rickety, damp and falling to bits. We are looking at self-funding the work, though we would be appreciative if any local firm is interested in sponsorship to help get the job done - we're aiming for completion over the summer."

She added that the upgrade would be in step with demand for the facilities which is underpinned by steady bookings for court space during the week among people aged 60 and over, while younger parties were keen to attend during weekend slots.

As a social and sporting hub that draws people from the village and further afield, the club's popularity has proved to be strong since it switched from tarmac to synthetic clay back in August 2019. LED floodlights were subsequently installed last March, with the result that demand remains more evenly spread across the calendar.

Becky added: "The switch to artificial clay has been a positive move. It cost us £60,000 but the courts are less slippery and there is less judder on your knees when you're going after the ball."

The club has told Stroud District Council: "The new clubhouse will include a verandah for keen supporters, as well as a kitchen and toilet facilities within the clubhouse."

Elsewhere, it stated: "Above all, our aim is to provide affordable and enjoyable tennis for all standards of players within our community; our subscription rates are very reasonable, the use of floodlights is free, and we provide free balls for club nights, free refreshments and subsidise social events."

Any post-pandemic surge in demand for tennis in Minchinhampton reflects a bigger picture: according to the Lawn Tennis Association, some 5.6 million adults and 3.6 million children in England played tennis in 2023, signalling a 44% increase in adult participation and a 40% increase in children's participation from 2019.

● A deadline for observations is set as February 3 and businesses interested in sponsorship with the club can contact Becky at beckyputnam1@gmail.com.

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