New £85,000 all-weather tennis courts have been left ‘unplayable’ for three weeks for members of a village tennis club after storm water covered them with mud.
No play has been possible at Cound Tennis Club since heavy rain on September 5 caused the nearby brook to flood and the courts to be submerged in water.
The water also washed away gate posts, fences and all of the gravel off the car park.
Members have been forced to finance and clear up the courts themselves as the tennis club lies on a flood plain and could not get insurance. It is not yet known how much the clear-up will cost members.
The club has four courts and three have been cleared of mud and are now playable. It is hoped the fourth one will be usable in the next week.
Stuart Smith, president of the Lawn Tennis Association, visited the courts after two all-weather courts were opened in May, and installed to provide members with an opportunity to play tennis at the site throughout the year.
Peter Jones, club member, said: “It would appear that a wave of water came across the new courts on the Horsefield site and crossed the road by the war memorial to re-join the brook by our clubhouse next to the road bridge.
“Happily nobody was injured, but the courts were unplayable and we were left with a massive clean-up operation. Members have been busy with their plastic dustpans and buckets to help out.
“This is the second time the courts have flooded in the last 15 months. Is it just the weather or is there a problem with the brook?
“We will be writing to the appropriate authority to look at clearing the brook so that this never happens again.”
Both the Environment Agency and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council have insisted that they are not responsible for the maintenance of the brook.
