Former Bilston Tennis Club to be bulldozed – and it could be replaced by homes
A former tennis club that closed down following a hard-fought campaign to save it is now set to be bulldozed over fears it is unsafe.
Bilston Lawn Tennis Club, which was one of the oldest clubs of its kind in the Black Country before it shut two years ago, could be pulled down following an application from Wolverhampton Council.
Homes could eventually replace the tennis courts.
Local authority bosses have moved to try and have the tennis club removed over safety fears.
A planning application states the pavilion is in a ‘dangerous condition’.
The club had more than 100 members at its height and its top team played in the Staffordshire Premier League. It has not been revealed how many homes would be built.
A decision on whether to knock the club down is expected in the coming weeks.
Bilston councillor Phil Page said it would be disappointing to see the tennis club, which served the town for decades, disappear but admitted falling membership no longer made it viable.
He said: “I was told some time back the building was unsafe and that there was a consideration it would be demolished. I understand the community is being consulted on it.
“There are plans to demolish it and build homes on the site.
“Unfortunately the people have spoken because it wasn’t used. That’s why it went into disrepair.
“Club membership declined and the money wasn’t there to repair the building.”
Councillor Page added: “Any facility in Bilston we should try to protect but unfortunately that will only happen if people are prepared to use it.”
Bilston Lawn Tennis Club faced a fight for survival for several years after a huge drop in membership before finally shutting its doors.
In the final stages it was reduced to two courts because there was no longer enough funding to maintain the other two.
Bosses handed back the lease of the site to the council in 2015.
The club started in 1895 and moved to its Villiers Avenue site in 1921.
Its ash courts were regarded as the best in Staffordshire, and the club was regularly chosen to stage the annual county lawn tennis championships.
