WREXHAM is becoming a "tennis powerhouse" according to the city's MP as work on a £2m development at the tennis centre continues. 

On Wednesday (April 3), Wrexham’s Member of Parliament, Sarah Atherton visited the Wrexham Tennis Centre to see how they are using £2m of UK Government funding.  

The tennis centre is the largest Community Indoor Tennis Centre in Wales, with 500 people using it every week. 

During the visit, Ms Atherton was given a tour of Wrexham Tennis Centre and saw some of the players taking part in the Lexus Welsh Junior Open.

In 2022, Wrexham Council received £22.7 million from the UK Government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This replaced EU funding, which often went to Welsh Government in Cardiff to distribute.

The centre was one of many recipients in Wrexham and received £2 million in Shared Prosperity Funding.  

Ms Atherton heard how the significant UK Government investment will help to transform the centre, as well as being used to resurface all existing tennis courts, install floodlights, and make several other improvements.

In addition, the centre also plans to use this money to build three outdoor padel courts. Padel is a new form of tennis, that’s fun, easy to learn and extremely sociable. Padel is played on an enclosed court, about the third of the size of a tennis court, where groups of mixed ages and abilities can play together.   

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Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in Wales and Ms Atherton was delighted to hear that as a result of UK Government funding, Wrexham will soon be home to the first public padel courts in North Wales, opening up the sport to many more people. 

Ms Atherton heard that planning permission had been granted for these works, which are scheduled to start in May. 

Ms Atherton said:  “While Wrexham is renowned for its football, it boasts more than just a strong football culture. Nestled within our community, lies the prestigious Wrexham Tennis Centre, one of the UK’s largest indoor and outdoor tennis facilities.

"During my visit, amidst the buzz of the Lexus Welsh Junior Open, I was pleased to witness the tangible impact of the £2 million injection from the UK Conservative Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. This investment is being well spent and will transform all aspects of the Tennis Centre.  

"Thanks to UK Government investment, Wrexham is becoming a tennis powerhouse. Once the works at Wrexham Tennis Centre are completed, local residents will have unparalleled access to top-tier facilities. At this rate, it is looking likely that the next Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu will be from Wrexham!”