By BRIAN TILLEY

Last updated 13:37, Thursday, 18 September 2008

AN AMBITIOUS plan to set up a £3 million indoor tennis centre in Tynedale has won the backing of local tennis clubs.

Retired orthopaedic surgeon Roman Skowronski, from Bardon Mill, is the man behind the scheme to build a David Lloyd-style centre, with four indoor courts, and another four floodlit outdoor courts, as well as top quality gym facilities, a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, a viewing gallery and a cafe.

And while no definite location has yet been finalised for the facility, Mr Skowronski said he had identified six or seven potential sites for the centre, which would employ 24 people.

He has discussed the proposal with all five existing tennis clubs in the district, and three of them – Tynedale, Wylam and Stocksfield – had given it their full backing.

And despite a chilly response from both Tynedale Council and leisure company North Country Leisure, Mr Skowronski is convinced the scheme is a viable one.

He said: “I have been a keen amateur tennis player since I came to this country from Poland in 1974, and have played at clubs all over the country.

“While there are some good tennis clubs in Tynedale, the weather can make it difficult to play out of doors, as has been demonstrated this year in particular.

“I would like to provide the opportunity for people to play tennis even in adverse weather conditions.”

He pointed out that all leisure trends indicated increasing interest in indoor activities, and there were no indoor tennis facilities between Newcastle and Carlisle.

“Indoor tennis is not available within reasonable driving distance,” he pointed out.

He said an indoor centre would address Government and Lawn Tennis Association objectives, as well as those of the British Olympic Association.

Tennis activities would focus on coaching, from children to high performance players, and it was hoped the majority of day- time activities could be designated for use by schools and older players.

Mr Skowronski has been working on his dream for over a year, and estimated that construction costs would be around £2-3 million, with a further £300,000 to be spend on equipment.

The cost of purchasing or leasing a site had not been included in his figures.

He said while neither Tynedale Council nor North Country Leisure had been enthusiastic about the project, he felt it could be operated by a community interest company, or through business sponsorship.

Information from commercial leisure consultants QLM suggested that once the centre had been provided, there was likely to be sufficient demand to generate enough income to pay for staff, heating and lighting.

However, the chief executive of North Country Leisure, John Maude, said in a letter to Mr Skowronski that a fully commercial indoor tennis centre would normally serve a much larger catchment population than the Hexham/Corbridge area, to provide sufficient users to pay for construction and running costs.

He added: “I have been working in Tynedale for 17 years and have never been aware of any interest from commercial providers.

“If it was to work, the building would have to be provided largely by grants and donations, and not from commercial investment, and this is where the idea hits a major stumbling block.

“I am not aware of any major source of public funding which would support this.”

He also warned that planning issues connected with such a large building – it would have to be at least nine metres high – would be “substantial.”

Tynedale Council’s chief executive Richard Robson was equally pessimistic, saying in another letter: “The need for an indoor tennis centre has not been identified by the council in its sport and recreation strategy, so significant funding support from Tynedale Council would be unlikely.”

Nevertheless, Mr Skowronski remains upbeat, and is seeking support from sponsors.

He can be contacted via email on roman.353@btinternet.com