The new Tennis Strategy is a framework for the development of tennis within Scarborough borough for a 15 year period. It provides an understanding of need and demand and the facilities that are required now and in the future. The Strategy provides direction as to how identified needs could be met and helps providers to develop funding bids and influence investment decisions.
The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and discussions were held with key stakeholders during the development of the strategy and specific consultation was undertaken with local clubs and stakeholders, including town and parish councils, on the draft strategy between 29th July and 23rd September 2019. Responses were received from the following organisations:
- Scalby Tennis Club
- Filey Tennis Club
- Whitby Tennis Club
- Fylingdales Parish Council
Key issues raised during the consultation included:
- There is a lack of junior tennis development opportunities across the Borough and this could be improved by being linked to schools delivery and effective coaching programmes
- LTA affiliation is not universal across the Borough
- Access to ‘pay and play’ facilities is limited in both Scarborough and Whitby
- Clubs based on school sites have restricted access and schools are looking to utilise courts for other revenue streams, i.e. caravans, etc
- Opportunity to improve facilities in Whitby (West Cliff) and develop a new amalgamated club
- Opportunity to improve existing facility stock, i.e. resurfacing and floodlighting
- Introduce booking access system to available courts
- Pindar Indoor Tennis Centre is underutilised and needs to be more accessible and drive tennis development
- Good league structure that offers playing opportunities for existing players
- The existing coaching workforce is limited and should be developed
The Strategy provides an analysis of supply and demand for tennis, now and in the future. It looks at the quality and quantity of the current provision and assesses issues such as availability and accessibility of facilities. It makes a number of key recommendations and actions which are set out in Chapter 7. The action plan is ambitious and sets a framework for action over the lifetime of the strategy.
Further work is required with partners to develop the action plan further and consider the feasibility and potential funding options for the schemes identified. Funding is likely to be a key constraining factor in relation to a number of the schemes.