Council asks residents to make a ‘racket’ about their views on tennis courts

Bedford Borough Council have launched a survey to help them understand what local residents think about the tennis courts in the borough's parks and open spaces and what would encourage them to use the courts more regularly in the future.

The survey will run until Sunday 25 July and in that time, the Council will look to gather responses from as many residents as possible, from frequent users of the tennis courts to people who like the idea of trying something new.

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said "During the pandemic, we've seen how important outdoor exercise spaces have been to residents across the borough, not just for their physical health, but also for their mental wellbeing. By improving our understanding of what users would like to see in these spaces, we can make sure that they are fit for purpose and accessible to the communities that want to use them. That's why we're excited to announce that we're working alongside the LTA to help us understand what residents think and feel about the tennis courts in our parks and how we can encourage people to use them more regularly, or try them for the first time."

Jon Hughes, Regional Deliver Director for the LTA, said "As the LTA, our Vision is to Open Tennis Up to more people, making it relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone. Park court facilities are vital to this, to provide people with a local, low-cost place to play the game. We are very pleased to be working with Bedford Borough Council with the aim of ensuring that local residents can access and enjoy high-quality courts in the borough's parks, for the long term, enabling people to get out and active, with all the physical and mental health benefits we know tennis can bring."

Residents will be able to complete the survey online by visiting https://www.bedford.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/have-your-say/consultations/park-tennis-courts-consultation/.