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Opening of flagship indoor tennis centre held up by legal review

Giancarlo RinaldiSouth Scotland reporter
News imageBBC An indoor tennis centre building with a curved white roof and green and yellow entrance doorway. There is another low, brick building in front of it and rough ground in front of that. Shadows of trees are cast across the buildings.BBC
The indoor tennis centre cannot open until an operational agreement is completed

The opening of a flagship indoor tennis centre in southern Scotland is being held up while the operational agreement to run it is subject to legal review.

Work began on the £2.3m Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) project at the King George V sports complex in Dumfries in February last year and the centre was expected to open in 2025.

However, the terms of a deal between Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) and Queen of the South Football Club - which will run the centre - are still to be agreed.

It means that the three-court facility - aimed at providing year-round access to the sport - has been unable to open during some of the worst of the winter weather.

The Dumfries development is part of ongoing efforts to improve access to the sport across Scotland, with indoor centres recently built in Edinburgh and Elgin.

However, it has not been able to meet original hopes of opening before the end of 2025.

"The tennis centre is at the final stage before opening and we would expect it to be open within the next few weeks," a council statement said.

"The operational agreement between DGC and Queen of the South FC is under review by the respective legal teams.

"Once this is fully agreed, the tennis centre will open as soon as is practical to allow community groups, tennis clubs and schools in to use the facility."

It added: "All parties want people to be playing tennis in there as soon as possible and enjoying the fantastic facility."

News imageA sports complex building - single story and made of brick with trees in front of it and the curved white roof of the tennis centre behind it
The new centre is located at the King George V sports complex

An official opening is planned once the site is up and running.

The council said all "key stakeholders" were being kept regularly informed of the project's progress.

A Queen of the South statement said: "We are excited about the tennis centre opening and look forward to what will be a fantastic asset for Dumfries and Galloway.

"We have exciting plans and look forward to working with the local community groups, schools and tennis clubs to make the tennis centre something that Dumfries and Galloway can be proud of."