Free tennis courts promise as padel facilities come to Southport
The rapidly rising sport is replacing half of the tennis courts at Victoria Park
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
If you’ve any interest in sport, you’ll likely have heard of padel, the fastest growing sport in the UK. Similar to tennis but on a smaller court with glass walls included in the playing area, it is enjoying a rapid rise in popularity with new courts popping up in parks, city and town centres, and industrial estates to name just a few.
They’re also finally coming to Southport through a new development at Victoria Park which will see half of the tennis courts replaced. Today, we focus on promises that that those remaining courts - which have been closed to allow development to take place - will remain available to the public free of charge when once the new facility opens.
🚓 A dog was shot by police officers after biting a man and leaving him needing hospital treatment. Merseyside Police officers were called to Lynton Road, near Hillside Golf Course at 10.45am on Tuesday when two dogs were on the loose. The victim, in his 30s, suffered injuries to his stomach and arm and a second man, in his 70s, was approached by the dogs but not harmed. A police spokesperson said: “Armed police officers attended the scene, together with specialist dog officers. To prevent further harm, and stop the threat to the public, a decision was made to destroy one of the dogs at scene. A police firearm was discharged during the incident.”
💃 Sefton Council says is hoping to bring back some elements of the Cristal Palace exhibition which fell foul of weather conditions last weekend. The two-day event, which was due to involve artists performing from a giant chandelier suspended from a crane, was unable to take place as a result of high winds. Large crowds waited around an hour before a cancellation decision was made on Friday night, while the impending Storm Dave meant that Saturday’s performance was called off in the morning. The event was the second in the Elegantly Eccentric series taking place throughout 2026 and had involved performers travelling from France and months of preparation, including with local dancers and volunteers. A council spokesperson said: “Your support for Southport and its local businesses is invaluable. We are already working hard to bring some aspects of the show back later this year and further details will be provided in due course.”
👷 Southport’s colleges are to benefit from £900,000 of extra government funding. Southport Education Group - which is responsible for both Southport College and KGV College - has been allocated the money as part of a £307 million pot awared for repairs and maintenances of colleges across the country. The Department for Education says the funding will allow colleges “to fix leaking roofs, broken windows and worn-out facilities”. Recipients will be given the flexibility to decide how the funding is spent so it can be directed where it is needed most. Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “The young people in these colleges are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed. This £307 million investment will repair and modernise facilities across all 175 colleges in England, giving young people the spaces they need to build the skills they need for good careers, helping to drive economic growth.”
🏗️ The main contractor chosen to build the Marine Lake Events Centre is set to be formally appointed next month. Earlier this year, VINCI Building was announced as Sefton Council’s preferred choice for to lead development on the flagship development which is to replace Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. The troubled development has seen two lead developers pull out of the works amid concerns it could not be delivered on budget at a time when inflation is causing significant increases in building costs. VINCI signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement in January and in the meantime works have been ongoing at the site in preparation for the main construction.
Free tennis access promise as padel development begins at Victoria Park
By Jamie Lopez
Tennis courts at Victoria Park will remain free for public use after the creation of a new padel facility.
Work has now begun which will see padel courts built on the site of the park’s existing tennis area, replacing three of the six tennis courts while restoring the remaining ones to a better standard.
The development includes the creation of five padel courts and a coffee kiosk with outdoor seating as the facility aims to meet demand for a sport which is enjoying a huge growth in popularity nationwide.
Combining elements of tennis and squash, the sport is played inside glass walls and part of its attraction is it can be learnt very quickly and therefore enjoyed by beginners as well as more experienced players. The number of courts has grown from fewer than 40 in 2016 to 710 by the end of 2024 and the rate of growth only appears to have increased in the year which followed.
Plans for the site have been met with plenty of excitement, with some 2,500 people on the waiting list for memberships. Promises have been made for discounts for under 18s and emergency workers as well as free introductory lessons for schoolchildren but so far prices have not been revealed.
Across the North West, court hire can range from £15 an hour off-peak to up to £60 an hour at peak times in the busiest courts on top of monthly membership fees.
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