Balls to tennis players says Oldham Council as Dunwood Park Tennis Courts remain unfinished until spring
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative Howard Sykes MBE has blasted Oldham Council as tennis court saga at Dunwood Park in Shaw rumbles on.
The parks’ tennis courts were earmarked for a revamp costing thousands of pounds this summer. But punters were left exasperated as the courts were left unusable throughout the summer with no nets. After councillor Sykes raised the issue with council staff, assurances were given that the work would be completed, but the Dunwood courts remain virtually untouched since August.
Councillor Sykes said, “The work on the courts was supposed to be finished in time for the summer months when the park is busiest. But here we are in October with no nets on the courts and no new paint job. All the other tennis courts across Oldham Borough have been completed but no joy in Shaw. I’ve now been told that it’s been ’too wet, damp and shaded to attempt’ the work.”
As much as £19,000 was earmarked for the courts to be revamped, but the Council have failed to prioritise Shaw, even falsely claiming that the work had been completed. The work will now have to be done in spring 2025.
“Earlier in the year a team turned up, jet washed the courts, left them unpainted and without nets and marked the job as complete. The problem here is that the council never bothers to inspect the work of its contractors. This is not good enough. And the people who suffer are the users. This investment was supposed to encourage people to play tennis in Shaw when in fact it has done just to opposite.”
23 July 24 Oldham Council media release that says works complete and courts are open
Summer sport: Oldham park tennis courts reopen after renovation | Oldham Council
Councillor Sykes slams tennis courts shambles (Aug 2024)
Sykes slams Shaw tennis court shambles as Dunwood Park users left with no nets through Wimbledon fortnight and into August – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)