TENNIS clubs are joining forces to keep their courts going after cuts to funding.

The Hove Park Tennis Alliance, made up of three clubs, is proposing to take over the management of the area’s courts.

A shadow was cast over the long-term future of the courts after owner Brighton and Hove City Council stripped Hove Park Tennis Club of its Astroturf courts last year to make way for football pitches and said there would not be a budget for maintaining the other courts.

But Hove Park, Welbeck Tennis Club and Top Cats Tennis Club have drawn up plans to keep the courts going – and players are already seeing the benefits.

Neil Dickson, chairman of the Hove Tennis Alliance, said: “If it doesn’t happen, the council has made it fairly clear they aren’t paying for any maintenance or upkeep.

“I guess it’s down to how much funding they get.

“We are fairly sure it’s going to be a formality.

“We have already started our own online booking system. It is better already. We are keeping the courts maintained and are serious about it having lost the Astroturf courts to football. We felt we wanted to raise the profile of tennis at Hove Park courts.”

Players will have to pay for courses to keep cash coming in.

Mr Dickson and his colleagues made the decision as they wanted to make Hove Park a “thriving place” for tennis players.

He said: “What we are asking for is people to pay for their coaching courses.

“It was always going to be a tough ask for the council to overturn its decision on the Astroturf courts.

“Once we lost it we thought ‘what can we do to take matters into our own hands to make sure Hove Park becomes a thriving place for tennis players?’.

“Then we put the proposals in. We are asking people to pay online and, in doing so, help pay for future tennis at Hove Park.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said members of the environment, transport and sustainability committee are being asked to accept the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday.

A statement said: “The proposal has been drawn up following extensive consultation with representatives from tennis clubs, coaches and the Lawn Tennis Association.

“If agreed, the alliance would take over the running of the courts along with responsibility for upkeep and maintenance.

“The council would continue to own the courts and has agreed to carry out some improvements to the court surfaces and fencing, during the coming year.

“Existing club members would become members of the new alliance, while pay and play visitors would still be welcome.”

To book a court, go to hoveparkcourts.co.uk.