Vandalism halts air dome tennis
Bitts Park tennis air dome is out of operation after vandals slashed the polythene around 30 times on Monday, 10 March, causing it to deflate. Vandals appeared to have scaled a protective nine-foot high fence to cause the damage.
The extent of the damage is currently being assessed but is likely to cost thousands of pounds to either repair or replace and may result in the new facility being out of use for several weeks. The air dome opened around three weeks ago and has been used extensively by local school children and local residents.
The new Carlisle air dome was put in place to allow indoor tennis to be staged over the winter months and, when erected covers two of four new floodlit hardcourts. Carlisle Cllr Ray Knapton, Portfolio holder for Community Engagement said:
"This is very distressing and disappointing news. The air dome is a community facility that was providing valuable benefit to local school children and their families. Vandalism of this type will not be tolerated and we will be working closely with the Police to find the perpetrators."
The suspected vandalism has been reported to Cumbria Constabulary, who are urging any witnesses to come forward with information. A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said:
"It is hard to believe that anyone would commit such mindless vandalism on a landmark structure that has only recently been provided for the people of Carlisle. We are treating the incident extremely seriously and would appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact us on 0845 33 00 247 or approach an officer. Anyone who has information but wants to remain anonymous should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
The £280,000 Carlisle City Council project was made possible after £125,000 funding from the Lawn Tennis Association and other partner funding agreements was secured.
To coincide with the opening of the air dome a new Carlisle City Council Junior Tennis Development Programme was also put in place. The scheme has been up and running since January and has support from the Lawn Tennis Association. More than 110 children, aged between 4 and 10 years, have been regularly taking part.
The LTA tennis development programme will continue as normal but will be weather dependent. Anyone with a private booking should contact 01228 625545.
The courts are managed by Carlisle Leisure Limited on Carlisle City Council’s behalf.