CONTROVERSIAL plans to replace tennis courts with an indoor obstacle course at a sports centre in the district have been approved.

The plans will see half the indoor tennis courts at Batley Sports and Tennis Centre in Birstall replaced with soft play and an obstacle course.

Just two indoor courts will remain at the centre, while the four outdoor courts will be resurfaced as part of the work.

As well as a soft play and TAG Active interactive obstacle course, a separate entrance will also be created, along with a café and party rooms.

The plans, tabled by Kirklees Active Leisure, were passed at a meeting of the executive of Kirklees Council.

At the meeting, Councillor Andrew Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) expressed concerns over the changes during the meeting.

He said: “I’m an avid watcher of Wimbledon and it seems to me that to reduce a facility that could encourage a lot of younger people to aspire to be the next Andy Murray or Roger Federer is unfortunate.

“Investment should be made to make the outdoor courts usable in all weathers.”

The changes will cost £1.6 million and Kirklees Active Leisure hope they will increase visitor numbers by five times.

Lawn Tennis Association representative Gavin Sutcliffe was also in attendance at the meeting, and put forward proposals on behalf of the LTA to try and boost the number of children and adults playing tennis regularly without losing tennis courts.

He said only 60 to 80 children play tennis at the centre, whereas comparable centres elsewhere in the country have 400 children playing.

Guidance from the LTA also revealed the centre should be creating an annual income of around £180,000, but last year it was less than half at £76,800.

A petition was also submitted to Kirklees Council ,organised by members of Cleckheaton Lawn Tennis Club and people who use the Batley centre, to try and save the tennis courts, which amassed more than 1,000 signatures.

Cllr Pinnock added he was “completely mystified” about the decision.

“I think there is a problem here which was highlighted by Mr Sutcliffe from the LTA,” he said.

“The size of the facility that will be left is not going to work, and a lot of the users are conscious of that. I just cannot see how it is going to work.

“There is still an interest from people of all ages and classes in playing tennis, but not enough effort has been put into promoting tennis in the last three of four years, and the sport has kind of withered as a result.

“The outdoor courts will also need to be better looked after.”

Cllr Pinnock went on to say that the John Charles Centre for Sport’s tennis centre in Hunslet, Leeds, has been touted as an alternative venue for people to play tennis at, but said that for people from Cleckheaton and Bradford who play at Batley the Leeds centre is “too far away”.

During the consultation on the proposal, briefings were held with Councillors in Birkenshaw and Birstall, who gave positive feedback to the plans.

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin was also supportive of new activities at the centre, but also stressed the importance of retaining tennis on the site as a sport.

In passing the KAL proposals, Council leader Cllr David Sheard said: “Current usage is 16,000 and KAL’s proposed usage is 80,000.

“We are not in the business of supporting specialist facilities for specialist sports, for the elites.

“We are in the business of getting more usage out of our facilities and getting more children active.”