Pembroke council to petition against new tennis court

Pembroke local council is fighting to safeguard an open space that is popular for picnics and is objecting to the construction of another tennis court in the area, mayor Joe Zammit said yesterday.

In fact, the council plans to present a petition against the approved development of a third tennis court by the Pembroke Rackets Tennis Club. This will take place at the appeals hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The club already has two tennis courts, which the council deems to be sufficient.

"We have always cooperated with the club and other sports associations. But we cannot understand how the construction of a court, which can only benefit four people at most at a given time, can be favoured over an open space that caters for the public," Mr Zammit said.

In winter, the open space - one of two in Pembroke, which are in the hands of the council - was packed, the mayor said, adding that the tennis court would close off a substantial part of it.

The council had set up wooden tables in the picnic area, which also had a watercourse leading down to the valley.

A report by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, dated October 17, said the permitted uses of the open space should include a garden and recreation areas, and that the approved open-air tennis court could be considered a form of recreation facility in line with its policy.

But Mr Zammit felt that only a specific number of people - "the elite, who played tennis" - would benefit and no one else.

Signatures were yesterday being collected from picnickers for the petition that will be presented on Wednesday.