PEOPLE are being urged to have their say on plans to revamp the tennis courts at Page Park.
The Lawn Tennis Association has offered to spend around £50,000 resurfacing and upgrading the courts.
But the current free access to the three courts would end if the plan went ahead, as a condition of the investment would be that access is pre-booked, with users either paying a £36 annual household membership fee or £6 per hour to play and the courts fitted with a locked gate that users would be given a code to use for their booking.
Charges are currently made for bookings but unbooked access is free.
South Gloucestershire Council, which currently maintains the courts, has launched a consultation to ask people their views on the proposals, which also relate to the two courts at Bromley Heath Park operated by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council and Kingswood Park.
In its consultation document the council said: “Similar projects have been carried out at courts in Bristol and Bath which have opened up opportunities for people who wouldn’t normally play tennis to participate, with thousands of bookings each year.
“Before confirming their investment, we want to understand about potential interest in tennis locally. Everyone (both those who do and don’t currently play tennis) is encouraged to complete the survey to tell us what you think.”
More details and the survey can be found at the consultations section of South Gloucestershire Council’s website, at bit.ly/3n15jU4.
Friends of Page Park vice-chair Steph Purser said: “The courts do need improvements. The surface is poor.
“The council can’t afford to do the courts up and it could come to the stage where if nothing is done they will be closed for health and safety.
“But our courts have always been free to use, and they are well used, including by running groups and boot camp exercise classes.
“There are arguments for and against. The important thing is that everyone in the community has their say in the consultation.
“It’s frustrating that we only found out about the plans through reading an article in the Downend Voice and about the consultation nine days before it went live.”