New £1.2m indoor tennis facility in Elgin gets green light

Tennis players in the north-east have been served up a major boost after funding was secured for a new indoor centre in Elgin.

A four-court indoor tennis facility is to be built at the Moray Sports Centre in Elgin.

The £1.2 million four-court facility at Moray Sports Centre was given the green light after receiving an £816,000 investment from the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis fund, delivered in partnership by Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Work on the new building will start early next year and when complete, will allow existing and new players to have year-round access to courts.

Now its backers hope the facility will boost prospects of developing the next Andy or Jamie Murray.

Judy Murray has urged tennis authorities to build on the legacy of the success of her sons, Jamie and Andy. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Scott Lloyd, chief executive of the LTA, said: “Our aim with Tennis Scotland is to drive greater visibility of and engagement in tennis, with everyone working together to get more people playing the sport. This will enable more people from the north of the country to play throughout the winter months and provide much-needed facilities to the local tennis community.”

Judy Murray has long campaigned for better indoor facilities in Scotland and urged the LTA to build on the legacy of her sons’ success.

Speaking last year, she said: “Moray and the north of Scotland have been crying out for indoor tennis courts for a long time now and this project is a fabulous opportunity to create year-round play and a winter base for local players and clubs.

“The profile and interest in tennis in Scotland has sky-rocketed over the past 12 years, but it’s very tough to take advantage of that if you don’t have public indoor facilities and a strong and vibrant workforce. The two go hand in hand.”

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