Tennis airdome set to be reopened in Carlisle's Bitts Park

An inflatable tennis airdome in Carlisle's Bitts Park could re-open this month.

The 30ft tall white bubble was wrecked by storms in November, inflicting £10,000 worth of damage.

Lee Burrell, the city council's head tennis coach, said: "We are getting a new skin for the dome.

"The old one ripped along one of the seams and is beyond repair.

"We haven't had a confirmed date yet but hopefully it will be going up late January."

The dome opened in February 2008 as part of a £280,000 project by Carlisle City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association to improve tennis for youngsters.

It allows indoor tennis to be staged over the winter months and covers two floodlit hard courts.

Mr Burrell said that coaching sessions for juniors are due to restart on January 17. These will take place outside if the dome is not repaired by then.

The airdome is made of 350-micron polythene and is restrained by steel ropes tied to a concrete ground beam. It has been dogged by setbacks ever since it opened.

Within a month vandals had slashed the skin, rendering the dome useless.

It cost £20,000 to repair and to beef up security with CCTV cameras.

The dome re-opened in November 2008 but was shut for nearly three weeks after wind damage in January 2009.

Mr Burrell confirmed that there are plans to expand the adults' tennis section in 2011.

There will be coaching sessions for beginners, intermediate and advanced players, a ladies' morning on Fridays, singles ladder and open tournament.

Other possibilities include a club night or morning, student sessions, a skills and drills session, matchplays singles and doubles.

Mr Burrell also hopes to enter doubles teams into the Carlisle and District Tennis League.

Prices start at £2.50 per session for coaching for juniors. For more information or bookings call 01228 817581.