WORCESTER City Council will approach the Lawn Tennis Association for up to £70,000 as part of a major project to upgrade tennis facilities in the city.

But there’s just one snag, which means work can’t start quite yet.

The council’s Environment Committee agreed to a plan to spend £50,000 given to the Guildhall by Worcestershire County Council as part of the New Road roadworks on the scheme to improve public courts in Cripplegate and Gheluvelt Parks.

And it hopes to get a grant from the LTA for up to £70,000 – with the possibility of an interest-free loan of £50,000 on top

But it will mean the city council will have to spend £100,000 of its own money - and that could come from the income generation reserves - meaning the plan needs the approval of the Income Generation sub-committee.

But councillors were all in favour of the plan - especially making tennis available to more people.

Councillor Richard Udall said: “I learnt to play tennis on the courts in Cripplegate Park, it might even have been me that damaged them. How best can we help people who have never experienced tennis enjoy this great game? Can we hire racquets out, and make coaches available for hire as well? It’s not good having great new courts if you don’t have the equipment- which can be expensive - or don’t know how to play the game.”

Committee vice-chairman Councillor Alan Feeney said: “Perhaps we can make the racquets free for a deposit.”

While courts might be hired out at a rate of £7 per hour, council officer Alice Davey said there would be times when they are free to use, especially for children. Cllr Feeney said: “Can we make sure that those free times are not useless.”

The committee unanimously approved the report and the matter will be passed to the income generation committee to approve the use of council reserves.

Chairman Joy Squires said: “This is a great development with so many positives.”