Construction to begin in October for completion next year

It hasn't been quite as long as the wait for a British tennis champion at Wimbledon but the saga of the Back Common tennis courts has been a long one. Now it would seem that there is light, or in this case floodlights, at the end of the tunnel as finally the courts have been passed onto the company proposing to develop them. Construction will be underway by mid-October and is scheduled to last for three months.

There was optimism that there would be some work done this year but the possibility of Crossrail meant that no firm plans could be made but with the Turnham Green exchange for Crossrail rejected, the chance of the courts being dug up a few years after completion receded.

When work is finished the run-down site will be transformed into modern facilities, with nine multi-courts and two mini tennis courts, all floodlit. There will also be a permanent clubhouse.

Local Councillor Robert Oulds said of the news, “I am delighted that we are into the final stretch and we should see work starting on site in Chiswick Common very soon. If everything goes ahead as planned, local residents will be able to enjoy top class tennis facilities for the first time in a long while.”

The courts will be run by TFC Tennis Ltd. Who have a contract to refurbish the seven existing courts and build three additional courts one of which will be split in two for short tennis. They will manage the courts behalf of the Council, introducing a programme of tennis coaching for adults and children. One of the courts must always be available for public use at affordable rates and no membership fee is to be charged for use of the courts.

Providing the weather is favourable the first stage of the work should be finished in February or March.

September 13, 2004