PLANS to improve “woefully inadequate” tennis courts in a city park are finally set to go ahead after receiving the backing of councillors.

Worcester City Council submitted plans to refurbish its tennis courts in Cripplegate Park and install floodlights in the summer which were backed by its own planning committee last week.

The facilities in the city park have fallen into a state of disrepair and were worsened when it was used as a compound during flood prevention work in New Road.

Councillor Jenny Barnes said the work was “well overdue” as the tennis courts were in a “dire” state.

She said: “The flood improvement situation [in New Road] has been a year now and we were promised new tennis courts on the back of [the county council] parking for a year in our backyard so to speak.

“It’s dire at the moment. I am concerned about the lighting.”

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Cllr Chris Cawthorne said the improvements were “very welcome” as the courts were woefully inadequate.

She also said planned free tennis lessons and junior courts would be very beneficial to the city.

The improvements have been made possible through £215,000 of grants and loans by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

The city council would also use £50,000 county council highway compensation put aside as part of the damage caused by the New Road work and £50,000 of its own money.

The city council wants to encourage more people to play tennis and hopes to do so by installing floodlights for the Cripplegate Park tennis courts to allow them to stay lit until 9pm.

The council has already said it would be introducing hourly fees to use the new and improved courts but would also offers free training sessions.