A PETITION to keep tennis at a leisure complex has been launched - and signed by nearly 900 people.

The ‘Save Batley Tennis Centre Campaign’ was set up over fears that Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) wants to change the use of Batley Sports and Tennis Centre.

Lisa Hunter, 50, of Cleckheaton, uses the centre, at Windmill Lane, Batley, on a regular basis and is a member of the independent Batley ITI Tennis Club, which runs from it.

She said: “Kirklees Active Leisure are proposing to change the use of the tennis centre.

“The reason behind it is because they don’t believe the space it occupies earns enough money.

“All they see is a big space that they can put to a different use.”

Mrs Hunter believes one proposal for the centre is a soft-play area.

“Tennis is suitable for women, men and children,” she said. “It’s inclusive of all ages and everybody. A soft-play centre is suitable for who? Their thoughts are that they can draw more people in to a play centre.”

She believes that there has not been anybody working to develop tennis at the centre because “they do not want tennis there” and when the centre was set up 25 years ago, it was “heaving” because it was promoted.

Mrs Hunter claims this changed when KAL took over.

She said: “You’re taking away the sport from people. Tennis is a really good sport in your older years. It’s taking away any future chance for children. It’s not an expensive sport - you get a racket and a few balls and you play. It’s a good game, it develops life skills. Tennis does work in the area if the right person is put in charge.”

The petition calls on the centre to be kept as a dedicated tennis centre and for a development manager to be appointed, in co-operation with the Lawn Tennis Association, so it can return to a “thriving tennis centre of excellence once again”.

It says: “The centre is only in decline because KAL have not appointed a suitable dedicated tennis manager at the centre who would develop grass roots tennis in the locale and surrounding areas and build the centre back to its former popularity, with mini-tennis training and tournaments and adult classes and sessions for all.”

A spokesman for KAL said: “I can confirm that the current function and make-up of Batley Sports and Tennis Centre is being considered, which involves working closely with the Lawn Tennis Association, but no decisions have been made.”

View the petition at: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-batley-tennis-centre-usage-for-tennis