Carlisle's newly-renovated tennis courts are proving to be a big hit at Bitts Park, with over 40 new members and around 60 bookings in the last month. 

The city centre park boasts eight transformed tennis courts, courtesy of a significant £81,407.38 investment.

Backed by the Cumberland Council, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), GLL and Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association, this project started in 2023 and has ensured that high-quality facilities are accessible for local communities.

The recent warm weather, combined with the school summer holidays, has seen a significant upsurge in the number of people trying tennis. 

Bookings for the courts are maintained by Chatsworth Tennis Club and Cumbria Tennis, and they confirmed the impressive numbers that have played since last month's launch. 

The courts at Bitts Park have 46 new members – people who have taken out the option of the Annual Tennis Pass which cost £45 and allow you to use the courts for free every day for a year.

Just under 60 individual court bookings have also been made in the last month.

The Barclays Free Tennis Sessions on Sunday morning from 10 until 11am have been running for three weeks now and have attracted 45 players, adult and juniors, over the three sessions.

From Tuesday 10 September, there are plans to run LTA Youth Start and Prime Girls sessions for girls. This programme is a national LTA initiative which provides children with a racket and balls and six weeks of introductory coaching. Adult coaching will also be run after the children’s sessions.

Club manager Tracey Burrus said: "Thanks to the funding from the LTA, Bitts Park is now invaluable resource for people in Carlisle who would like to play tennis. The courts and electronic gate access system provide the opportunity for families to play together in a park setting with easy online booking.

"They are an affordable way to play without the commitment of joining a club. The free park sessions and coaching will help people to make the most out of this fantastic facility. It will also help provide an entry level for more people to take up tennis which in turn will help grow tennis and help our local tennis clubs attract more players."

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