The end is finally nigh for the hazardous overgrowth on the Nizells Avenue side of the courts at St Ann’s Well Gardens. Work to install a new fence and cut back the overgrowth on the tennis courts will start November 2 and expected to take five days.

Courts 1-4 will be closed for repairs on these dates:
Monday 2 November
Tuesday 3 November
Wednesday 4 November
Thursday 5 November
Friday 6 November

St Ann’s Tennis CIC director Conrad Brunner said: “It’s fantastic news that this is being done and, while there will be some minor disruption, the north side courts are going to be much more pleasant to play on.

“We’ve been pushing for this for a long time. It’s not just the thousands of lost tennis balls – the overgrowth also leaves a lot of dangerous debris on court.

“The idea of a tennis ball simply pinging back gently off a brand new chain-link fence is almost too wonderful to be true.”

St Ann’s Tennis has campaigned all year to get this important job done, part of a long-term project to improve the courts.

Brunner added: “Many thanks to the team at Brighton & Hove City Council. Head of Parks Rob Walker said he would get this done and – despite difficult financial circumstances – he has kept his promise.”

The project is being managed by Sharon Gumbrell, Area Premises Officer at BHCC.

St Ann’s Tennis, the new CIC which took management of the courts in September, has already kickstarted a transformation including cleaning and painting the courts, installing new nets and net posts, hiring a regular court cleaner and introducing an easy-to-use online booking system.