Courts expected to be open for use by May

The renewal of Chiswick Back Common tennis courts moved a step closer today ( Monday 14th March), with preparatory clearance work beginning on-site. Once completed, the redevelopment will provide high-quality tennis facilities for the local community.

After the site has been cleared, ground-works, surfacing and fencing for all the courts will be put in place over the next couple of months.

The courts are expected to be open for use by mid-May, although work on a new, permanent clubhouse may still be under way.

When the refurbishment is completed, the run-down site will be transformed into modern facilities with nine multi-courts and two mini tennis courts, all floodlit.

Cllr Paul Lynch, chair of the Chiswick Area Committee, said: “We have looked forward to this moment, and I am delighted that the end is finally in sight. When we see the courts in use after being derelict for so long, it will make all the hard work worthwhile.

“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. Hopefully centres like this will encourage some home grown talent to take on the world's best in a few years time!"

The courts should have been finished by this month but uncertainty over the possible site of a Crossrail exchange station at Turnham Green caused them to be delayed.

March 14, 2005