Nottingham City Council has expressed its extreme disappointment about the LTA’s decision to move the Men’s ATP tour event from Nottingham to Eastbourne in 2009.

The Council feels that this decision is fundamentally wrong for the future development of tennis in Nottingham and for the wider region and across the country.

Despite this LTA decision to withdraw the Men’s ATP tour event, Nottingham City Council’s commitment to improving its leisure facilities for local residents continues as part of its overall Leisure Centre Transformation Programme.

The Council believes that there are many associated benefits that surround the Nottingham Open in respect of the overall development of Tennis in the City and the region and that the implications of removing the ATP Men’s tour event from Nottingham have not been fully considered.

The Nottingham Open is a major part of the calendar of sporting events for the East Midlands and has been an exemplar and catalyst for tennis development over the past 14 years. The last three Nottingham Opens have produced a Wimbledon Semi Finalist.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Community and Culture Councillor David Trimble said: "The Nottingham Open represents a prestigious event in the tennis calendar and has helped endorse the good reputation Nottingham has for delivering sporting and other events.

"The LTA has a responsibility to deliver and develop tennis to communities across the country and the Council feels that the decision will not only be a great loss to Nottingham and tennis development, but will also remove the only blue ribbon event outside of London. The LTA needs to demonstrate it continues to be committed to tennis development outside the South of England."

Jamie Baker, British number 2 and David Cup Player, qualified for the Nottingham Open last year. Jamie is one of Nottingham’s Tennis Academy players and for young players coming through the academy seeing a fellow player moving on to the next step up the tennis ladder is invaluable inspiration to future players.

The Festival of Tennis, which takes place during the Nottingham Open provides exposure to over 7000 children every year and has won several awards (including Nottingham being voted Local Authority of the year).

The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), have repeatedly stated over the last 5 years when reporting on the Grass Courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre that the courts are 'Of the highest standard'.

A STRI spokesperson said: "When testing the courts surface, properties of court make up and playablility were near identical to those at Wimbledon, making Nottingham's courts perfect for a Wimbledon warm up event."

 Despite this disappointing decision by the LTA, an estimated £735,000 will be spent to refurbish and update facilities at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Work includes:

• Replacing the ground floor catering with a new air cooled fitness suite with multi activity / spinning studio
• Re-location of the ground floor catering to the first floor
• Undertaking building condition works for mechanical and electrical services.

With over 300,000 visitors each year the Nottingham Tennis Centre represents a thriving facility for local people and this investment will maintain a quality, fit for purpose provision for customers to benefit from for many years to come.

The new proposals will be on public display at the Tennis Centre from 14-21 April. The first day of consultation will commence on Monday 14 April between 2pm and 8pm, where display boards and staff will be on hand to meet centre users and members of the public and feed back their thoughts and suggestions in relation to the proposed new development.

Feedback can also be given via Customer Feedback Forms issued on the day or via the Web Site on www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/transformation.

Development works are due to start at the end of June and are scheduled to reach completion in late Autumn 2008.