PROTESTERS will hope that making a racket next week will stop North Somerset Council turning tennis courts into a car park.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Canniford says it is time for people to stand up to protect the Grove Park tennis facility by turning up to the courts to join a protest on October 13.

He said: “I think there will be quite a few people there. We have members of Weston YMCA turning up as they want them to stay as tennis courts. The argument is still the same – these tennis courts are required more than a car park.”

He added that converting them would be a big loss to Weston, leaving just a couple of old public courts in Ashcombe Park, which are ‘falling to pieces’.

Members of local tennis clubs are also expected to attend the protest, which starts at 11.30am.

Cllr Canniford said he hopes a few players will be able to dig out some old racquets to show the council what ‘one of the most attractive parts of North Somerset’ should be used for.

The council hopes to convert the courts into car parking, but first must secure consent from nearby St John’s Church, which retains an ancient covenant dictating how the land can be used.

Last week Avon and Somerset Constabulary expressed concerns over the safety of any car park due to problems involving alcohol and drugs in the area.