Tennis: Dumbarton MSP angry over lack of courts

Jul 10 2009 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

DUMBARTON MSP Jackie Baillie is making a racket about the lack of tennis facilities in the area.

The politician has called on the SNP government to start getting serious about sport on the back of Andy Murray reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and after it was revealed that almost a third of Scottish councils have no tennis courts whatsoever.

In a survey of every local council in Scotland it emerged that West Dunbartonshire Council, alongside nine others, had no tennis courts or facilities. The privately-owned Kirktonhill Tennis Club provides the only courts in Dumbarton.

Jackie said: “I am very disappointed that West Dunbartonshire Council is amongst almost a third of Scottish councils that have no tennis facilities whatsoever.

“Andy Murray’s fantastic performances at Wimbledon will inspire thousands of youngsters to get involved in sport. We need to provide them with places to play.

“The likes of Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have all benefited from playing on tennis courts from a young age and we must offer our youngsters a similar opportunity.

“I want to see the Scottish Government investing in tennis and being much more serious about investing in sport rather than just talking about it. Not everyone can be an international star like Andy Murray but we can all benefit from an active and healthy lifestyle.”

Levengrove Park in Dumbarton did have a tennis facility, however it was scrapped, while the courts at Argyle Park in Alexandria fell into disrepair because they were not being used – and Argyle Bowling Club now occupies that site.

SNP councillor Craig McLaughlin, the council’s finance convener, said: “I’m disappointed yet again that Jackie Baillie does nothing but carp and moan when other MSPs are constructive and try to find solutions to problems.

“Perhaps if MPs and MSPs cut down their expense bills then councils might actually have more money to provide facilities like this.”