Felpham's £800,000 tennis boost

The district's only all-year facility for tennis is being planned for the Arun Leisure Centre.

The scheme is set to cost upwards of 800,000 and the first players could be on the courts in about 18 months' time.

The facility would form part of the 2012 London Olympics build-up and legacy to reflect tennis'status as an Olympic sport.

Talks between the centre's operator, Inspire Leisure, and the Lawn Tennis Association about the project have reached an advanced stage to make hopes of its progress optimistic.

The LTA would be expected to pay about half the cost as part of its commitment to expand interest outside the Wimbledon tournament.

Inspire Leisure chief executive John Stride said lottery funding would also be sought to enable the scheme to go ahead.

"This is a major project and the idea is to promote tennis for all ages to enjoy at all times of the year," he said.

"The LTA have a blueprint for British tennis to increase the number of people who play the game regularly.

"The tennis centre would be used for county and regional competitions."

The nearest 12-month tennis facilities are in Worthing. The proposed courts would add to the four outdoor courts which have been at the centre for many years.

Building the indoor facility would also involve talks with landowner West Sussex County Council and neighbouring Felpham Community College.

Inspire Leisure intended to work closely as well with the nearby University of Chichester as its presence on its Bognor Regis campus is boosted in the next few years by the arrival of its acclaimed sports department from Chichester.

A further boost to sport in the Bognor area as the 2012 Olympics come closer will occur when Inspire Leisure soon launches its revamped its sporting champions scheme.

This will be extended to 11-year-olds to encompass all secondary school age children who have reached at least county standard.

They will be given free use of the centre's swimming pool and its Tone Zone gym to help them in their training routines.

Closer links would also be established with the schools' sporting partnership around the town centred on the specialist sports status of Bognor Regis Community College.

Mr Stride added the university's plans to turn Bognor into its sporting centre also offered an unparalleled chance to increase the profile of sport around the town.

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