PUBLICLY-OWNED tennis courts in Ayr are to be sold to a private club.

But councillors have been assured that less well off families in the area will still be able to get access to the facilities.

A report to South Ayrshire Council's leadership panel recommends the sale of the local authority's Seafield tennis courts to Ayr Lawn Tennis Club (ALTC) for £4,500.

The report reveals that the club will then receive a £60,000 grant from the council to bring the facilities up to scratch.

The club’s plan is to resurface the courts, upgrade the fencing, widen the entrance to make it wheelchair accessible and provide an automated entrance system.

The council assessed the site and estimated it would cost almost £39,000 to bring back up to standards, primarily the playing surface.

The club also plans to spend around £10,000 to install the automated entrance.

They have also requested access rights for the gravel access path to the courts

In his report to the leadership panel, SAC's senior asset manager Tom Burns said it was anticipated that ALTC would deliver the following activities:

  • increased coaching hours delivered by ALTC [available to both public and members]
  • increased levels of junior member play
  • increased membership of ALTC
  • increased public participation via a more accessible booking system and active promotion
  • increased tennis provision in connection with South Ayrshire Council Active Schools

Mr Burns added that the club had highlighted regeneration and public health and wellbeing as drivers for the project.

Both Labour’s Troon councillor Philip Saxton and SNP Maybole councillor William Grant  sought assurances about poorer families being able to have affordable access to the courts.

Cllr Saxton said that he want to be assured that the facility would be for the benefit of the wider community, rather than a single club, while making it accessible to those who could not afford to hire courts.

Cllr Grant said: “I am generally very pleased with proposal that would provide an up to date facility for people who wish to play tennis.

“My concern is, and I take into account good work with schools: if someone is not  a member of Ayr Lawn Tennis Club and, say, they come from a non-affluent area, then £10 per hour [to hire] would be quite expensive.

“Is there any way to mitigate costs for those who wish to play but can't afford to play?"

Mr Burns said that the level of court fees was, in his view, "not unreasonable" and suggested that the club's members were "progressive" in their approach to tennis in the community.

He cited the club's work with local primary schools and the Active Schools programme as a way to ensure young people from deprived areas could get affordable access to the game.

Cllr Grant responded: “It is very important that we consider this. [If] people are on benefits and have no spare money, [it] shouldn’t mean that a child cannot play tennis because their family can’t afford £10 per hour.

“We want to help children no matter their financial ability. If they are good at tennis, why should they not be allowed to play?”

Community asset transfer official Robin Jamieson also suggested that paying for membership has both financial and social benefits.

He added: “The additional capacity will allow for a greater range of community coaching.

"On pricing, the idea is that, even if someone only plays twice a month, it would be better financially as well as allowing access to matchplay.”

The leadership panel approved the transfer and grant.