Tennis players frustrated by indoor centre opening delay

Tennis players in south-west Scotland have said a delay in opening a flagship indoor centre is "extremely frustrating".

Work began on the £2.3m Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) project at the King George V sports complex in Dumfries in February last year and the centre was expected to open in 2025.

However, the terms of a deal between Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) and Queen of the South Football Club - which will run the centre - are still to be agreed.

It means that the three-court facility - aimed at providing year-round access to the sport - has been unable to open and sessions planned to be held in it have been cancelled.

The Dumfries development is part of ongoing efforts to improve access to the sport across Scotland, with indoor centres recently built in Edinburgh and Elgin.

However, it has not been able to meet original hopes of opening before the end of 2025.

Tennis Dumfries and Galloway president Colin Kennedy said it had lobbied "very hard" but communication had "often been less than satisfactory".

"This delay in opening the new indoor tennis facility has been extremely frustrating for all clubs and players within the region," he said.

"We had a visit prior to year end and all representatives from Dumfries and Galloway clubs could see the completed courts were ready for play."

He said junior district coaching and competitions for January had been cancelled which had increased frustration.

"We still don't know when contract will be agreed and courts actually opening for play or when a new date for the official opening may be set," he added.

The council said the site should be open to players soon.

"The tennis centre is at the final stage before opening and we would expect it to be open within the next few weeks," a statement said.

"The operational agreement between DGC and Queen of the South FC is under review by the respective legal teams.

"Once this is fully agreed, the tennis centre will open as soon as is practical to allow community groups, tennis clubs and schools in to use the facility."

It added: "All parties want people to be playing tennis in there as soon as possible and enjoying the fantastic facility."

An official opening is planned once the site is up and running.

The council said all "key stakeholders" were being kept regularly informed of the project's progress.

A Queen of the South statement said: "We are excited about the tennis centre opening and look forward to what will be a fantastic asset for Dumfries and Galloway.

"We have exciting plans and look forward to working with the local community groups, schools and tennis clubs to make the tennis centre something that Dumfries and Galloway can be proud of."