Tennis players will be charged to play hourly on Bradford on Avon tennis courts when a £70,000 refurbishment programme is completed in October.

The town council is about to start work on Monday, August 19 on an eight-week programme to improve the three courts at Culver Close.

It has partnered with the Lawn Tennis Association via the £30 million Park Tennis Investment Programme project to breathe new life into outdated facilities.

The project will involve resurfacing and upgrading the courts and the introduction of a new booking system when the work is complete.

The LTA is providing 90 per cent of the funding, with the remaining being provided by the Medlock Charitable Trust.

Currently, the three courts are operated as a turn-up and play, with no booking or charge.

 The council said: “The LTA programme is coming to an end and therefore the work will start right away, so the courts will be closed from Monday 19 August for 8 weeks. This allows for the works to be undertaken and the new surface to be cured.

“We understand this may be disappointing, but this is a great opportunity to invest in our town's sports facilities.

“When the courts reopen, the new booking system will allow the courts to be booked, by the hour. The system will give a one-time code that allows access by a new locking gate system.

“There will be a charge for the use of the courts, where you can pay by the hour or there will be a household subscription charge.

“This charge will allow for the regular maintenance of the courts and allows funds for any future upgrades. We'll keep these charges as low as possible to ensure everyone can enjoy playing tennis in BoA.”

Some residents are upset that players will be charged when the courts reopen, while others say it is fair they pay towards their upkeep.

One woman said: “Personally, I’d prefer my taxes were spent on maintaining local facilities for everyone to use.”

Another responded: “I understand it will be a very reasonable amount for a whole year of access to a top-quality facility.”

The LTA Park Tennis Investment Programme project was set up for 2022-2024 to identify existing park tennis courts that are in a very poor or unplayable condition.

The association has been working with local authorities to renovate these facilities and bring them back to life for the benefit of local communities.