Romilly Park tennis courts reopen after major upgrade
The tennis courts at Romilly Park have reopened following major improvement works in a joint project between the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Tennis Wales and Sport Wales.
Work has been completed just as Wimbledon reaches fever pitch, offering local players the chance to emulate their heroes on court.
The courts now feature ultra-modern surfaces along with a gate access system utilising ClubSpark. That allows people to search, book and pay for courts online – meaning there is no need to wait for or face the uncertainty of a court being available to play. The gate access system helps to manage bookings and creates a safe space for people to play whilst deterring court vandalism.
Whilst there will be a charge to book a court, there will be no membership or priority system in place. Regular users have the option to buy an annual family pass, or student pass, which offers a low one-off fee for 12 months play.
The Council has always set charges for the use of its tennis courts but has not collected fees for a number of years as it has not been economic to do so. The courts will operate on a non-profit basis, with money reinvested into maintenance and any surplus used to fund tennis activity in Romilly Park and the wider Vale of Glamorgan.
Throughout the year, there will also be regular opportunities to play tennis for free and Tennis Wales intends to carry out community engagement activities to encourage more people to take up the sport.
An extensive coaching programme will also operate from the courts courtesy of Vale Tennis Academy, which will offer a range of sessions for all ages and abilities encouraging people to people to play and socialise.
Cllr Gwyn John, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “The Council is committed to providing the best possible facilities for its residents to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle.
“This objective is shared by both Tennis Wales and Sport Wales who have played an important part in the refurbishment of the courts at Romilly Park.
“It is hoped the work will help increase the number of people regularly playing tennis at this much-loved location.”
Tennis Wales Head of Participation Jamie Clewer said: “We are committed to opening up tennis and making the sport accessible to all in Wales. The refurbishment of park tennis courts, such as these great facilities at Romilly Park, are key to meeting this aim.
“We look forward seeing these courts used by the local community for many years to come, raising the profile of tennis in the area and seeing more people play recreational and club tennis.”