New projects to upgrade sporting facilities across two parks in Chingford have been given the go-ahead. 

Earlier this year, it was announced six community tennis courts at Ridgeway Park in Peel Close, Chingford, had secured half-a-million pounds worth of investment

Works to upgrade the courts with LED floodlights and new netting are due to start on May 18. 

Now, funding from Sport England and the council has been secured to build a sports pavilion alongside the courts, and a new full-size third generation floodlit artificial grass pitch at Salisbury Hall Playing Fields, off Chingford Road, Chingford.

The state-of-the-art pitch will replace the existing smaller all-weather pitch, which was built 18 years ago and is in a state of disrepair. 

"As it stands, the pitch provides little benefit to the users and residents. Indeed to the costs of trying to maintain it is prohibitive," the planning application stated.  

The new pavilion at Ridgeway Park will be single storey height and will feature office space, a club area, storage facilities, toilets and a kitchen area to provide refreshments for park users.    

Users of the free tennis courts will be able to play for an extra four hours after dark during the winter months as the floodlights will be in use until 9.30pm during weekdays and 8pm on weekends. 

Mother Linzi Stace of St Egberts Way, Chingford, has been playing tennis since she was child. 

She said: "It is about time the courts at Ridgeway Park had an upgrade.

"I'm sure the nets have not been changed since I was a kid - they are full of holes.  

"My son always wants to go to a different park as there is not much for him to do here.

"Floodlights will increase visibility and make the park area a lot safer.

"Tennis is a great sport to get into as it is energetic and you have to concentrate so I hope this does encourage more young people to get involved."

Ridgeway Park was identified for Sport England funding as it had the most potential for increasing participation in tennis and facilitating play all year-round. 

According to research by the LTA, 3,369 Waltham Forest residents currently play tennis in the borough, and a further 4,239 residents indicated they wish to do so in the future. 

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Ahsan Khan, said: "We want to do all we can to help encourage more people to get involved with sport. 

"Whether you're a young footballer wanting to head down to the local park to bend it like Chingford's very own David Beckham, or an adult wanting to channel your inner Andy Murray, we want to make sure you have first-class facilities nearby."