Dawlish Lawn Tennis Club is to receive a £2,000 grant from the town council to help pay for much-needed renovations to its clubhouse.

The club had applied for £1,000, but councillors agreed to give it double that amount, at the Finance and General Purposes committee meeting on Thursday, April 29.

In its application document, the tennis club said it needs to replace three patio doors to improve security.

It said: "The locks are of a poor standard and the windows are also single pane glass. We want to make sure the people who utilise the facility have a safe, secure, modern facility fit for purpose."

The club also needs to replace a wooden-framed window in the ladies' changing room, and repair the roof to stop rain getting in.

The total cost of the renovations will be £9,752.

The application explained that the club has two costly projects planned for the year 2023-24: resurfacing its courts, which is a health and safety requirement every 12-14 years, and replacing its floodlighting with more energy-efficient LED lighting. It will be paying for these projects through fundraising, sponsorship and membership revenue, but in the meantime is looking for help financing the relatively minor renovation work.

The club also said it had cut its costs in response to the loss of income during the Covid pandemic. The coaches reduced their retainer fees and the head coach took over cleaning duties, since the existing cleaner was in a group vulnerable to Covid.

At the meeting the councillors said the club is very popular locally, and is helping its members and the wider community to live an active lifestyle. It caters for people aged from three to over 70, and has a junior programme and mini-tennis for children.

The committee agreed to provide a grant of £2000, and the renovation work is due to take place in the first two weeks of June this year.