Vandalism halts air dome tennis
Bitts Park tennis air dome is out of operation after vandals
slashed the polythene around 30 times on Monday, 10 March, causing
it to deflate. Vandals appeared to have scaled a protective
nine-foot high fence to cause the damage.
The extent of the damage is currently being assessed but is
likely to cost thousands of pounds to either repair or replace and
may result in the new facility being out of use for several weeks.
The air dome opened around three weeks ago and has been used
extensively by local school children and local residents.
The new Carlisle 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. Carlisle Cllr Ray Knapton,
Portfolio holder for Community Engagement said:
"This is very distressing and disappointing news.
The air dome is a community facility that was providing valuable
benefit to local school children and their families. Vandalism of
this type will not be tolerated and we will be working closely with
the Police to find the perpetrators."
The suspected vandalism has been reported to Cumbria
Constabulary, who are urging any witnesses to come forward with
information. A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said:
"It is hard to believe that anyone would commit
such mindless vandalism on a landmark structure that has only
recently been provided for the people of Carlisle. We are treating
the incident extremely seriously and would appeal for any witnesses
or anyone with information to contact us on 0845 33 00 247 or
approach an officer. Anyone who has information but wants to remain
anonymous should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
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.
To coincide with the opening of the air dome a new Carlisle City
Council Junior Tennis Development Programme was also put in place.
The scheme has been up and running since January and has support
from the Lawn Tennis Association. More than 110 children, aged
between 4 and 10 years, have been regularly taking part.
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.