Starting on Monday, February 5, new 3G artificial turf pitch (ATP) tennis courts will be placed at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, replacing the current astro tennis courts.
The upgrade is necessary to refurbish the courts which have seen numerous years of active use.
The new surfaces will bring improvements such as a levelled ground to ensure the pitches can withstand all weather conditions which is a much-needed asset for year-round availability.
The installation process is predicted to take seven to eight weeks and, during this time, the courts will be closed.
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Wet weather may also influence the duration of the project.
The Vale of White Horse District Council, owners of the centre and the surrounding land, have provided £165,500 of funding.
These funds have been taken from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and S106, a developer contribution specifically allocated to local area ventures.
Councillor Debra Dewhurst, cabinet member for leisure centres and community buildings, said: “These courts are already very popular but once the new surfaces are installed making them more robust and weatherproof, they can be used even more.
“We’re proud that the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre is used for professional tennis tournaments so it’s really good that we’re able to maintain them for competition standard. This is just one of a number of projects we are working on to make sure that the facilities at the centre are the best that they can be.”
Councillor Andrew Crawford, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “This project is a great example of how we’re able to use the developer contributions to improve facilities for residents and make sure that they are able to use them for years to come.”
Apart from being more robust, the 3G artificial surface will also be eco-friendly.
The required maintenance will be less extensive and fewer chemicals will be needed for cleaning and care.
Facility management company GLL, responsible for overseeing the centre and its facilities, will manage the courts once the work is complete.
Post renovation, players keen on using the courts will be able to make bookings through the Better UK app, website, or directly with the centre.
The refurbishment of the courts is part of a series of projects aimed to improve facilities at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre.
Recently, the vanity area was updated with new hairdryers, units, a wheelchair accessible area, and a sea-life mural viewable from the pool.