Apr 08 - New Tennis Academy
NEW TENNIS ACADEMY FOR THE BOROUGHThe Royal Alexandra and Albert School has been chosen as the site for a Tennis Academy which will provide indoor and outdoor tennis courts for pupils of the School and residents of Reigate and Banstead. The Academy, which is being funded by the LTA, Tennis X and the School, is effectively a gift to local people and it supports the Government’s drive to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Tennis X, the organisation supporting this initiative, has ambitious plans to deliver Wimbledon winners of the future. “By making tennis more accessible to pupils and local people, we aim to develop excellence in tennis and support achievement at the highest level”.
The new Tennis Academy will provide 4 indoor courts, 4 outdoor courts and two junior courts. Local people will now be able to play tennis in all weathers without having to travel to Croydon or Sutton. The development of these new courts also means that the Royal Alexandra and Albert School can offer unrivalled tennis facilities to its pupils.
Paul Spencer Ellis, Headmaster at the School commented, “Participation in sport has huge benefits in this competitive world. Not only is it part of a healthy lifestyle but it improves fitness, and often it also improves academic performance. It is one of the few sports that can be played by people well into their 60’s and 70’s.”
The application was approved by Reigate and Banstead Planning Committee on Wednesday 16th April and it is hoped that work will start shortly, with a view to opening the new Tennis Academy in 2009.
An added benefit of the new Tennis Academy is that the old tennis courts which are in front of Gatton Hall, can be removed, and the historic ‘Parterre’ garden restored (photo enclosed at the end of this press release). This will open up views of the ‘Capability Brown’ landscape to the south of Gatton Hall.
The Planning Committee also approved major upgrades to the sports facilities at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School. These include;
- all-weather pitch
- netball courts
- a sprint facility which will also be used for long jump, triple jump etc
- more grass pitches
