Severe winds halts air dome tennis

(Date of issue: Monday, 12 January 2009)

Bitts Park tennis air dome is out of operation after it was damaged following high winds.

The extent of the damage is currently being assessed but may result in the new facility being out of use for several weeks. The air dome opened for business in November last year but has been out of operation since last Sunday (11 January).

Carlisle City Council spokesperson said:

"We are in contact with our contractors, Covair, who supplied and installed the air dome. These discussions will determine the extent of the damage and when it could be reinstalled. In the meantime, we apologise for any inconvenience the damage may have caused."

The tennis air dome was put in place to allow indoor tennis to be staged over the winter months and when erected covers two of four new floodlit hardcourts.

The £280,000 Carlisle City Council project was made possible after £125,000 funding from the Lawn Tennis Association and other partner funding agreements was secured.

The LTA tennis development programme will continue as normal but will be weather dependent. Anyone with a private booking should contact 01228 625545.

The courts are managed by Carlisle Leisure Limited on Carlisle City Council’s behalf.