Funding has been secured to re-surface the Beechgrove tennis courts in Moffat. Work is due to start after the summer period resurfacing the 6 blaes tennis courts at Beechrove Tennis Club. The facility in Moffat is the largest tennis facility in Dumfries and Galloway and will be upgraded to a modern, porous tarmacadam surface.
The courts are steeped in history having staged the Scottish Tennis Championships in the late nineteenth century and are still the venue for the South of Scotland Championships.
The Council facility is currently home to the blossoming Beechgrove tennis club and the courts are in urgent need of a new surface. The upgrade will also see floodlighting added to 3 of the courts further enhancing opportunities for tennis all year round.
The local club has worked tirelessly to help draw a funding package of almost £290,000 to the project from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the Holywood Trust adding to local fund raising undertaken by the club themselves.
The club plays in the Tennis Dumfries and Galloway district league and provides learn to play development programmes and tennis opportunities for men, women, young people, and disabled participants.
Councillor Jeff Leaver, chair of the Children, Young People and Lifelong Learning committee, said: “I’m really pleased our Council can invest in this facility. One of our Council’s commitments is to encouraging and supporting children to be healthy and active and this facility upgrade will enable many more youngsters to participate in tennis. Let’s hope we can develop the next Andy Murray in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Councillor Stephen Thompson, chair of Annandale and Eskdale Area committee, said: “This is wonderful news and will benefit not only our local population but help attract additional visitors to our area. Beechgrove Tennis Club deserves immense credit for committing so much time and energy into helping make this happen and improving opportunities for our local community.”
It is anticipated that work will be able to start on site once the 2017 South of Scotland Championships and the World Championship Gold Panning event have been completed.
