Flood-hit tennis courts left with no insurance

Courts at a tennis club which were flooded during Storm Babet have cost £1m to repair, but will now have no insurance cover if they are submerged again.

Duffield Tennis and Squash club lost seven carpeted tennis courts and five squash courts during the storm which deluged homes and businesses a year ago.

The courts will be officially reopened on Saturday morning by Sandi Procter, the president of the Lawn Tennis Association, who gives out trophies at Wimbledon.

But Nigel Williams, who led the recovery at the club, said the club has been unable to find an insurance company willing to provide flood cover and will be forced to foot the bill itself if it suffers the same damage again.

Talking about the flooding, Mr Williams said: "You couldn't tell they were tennis courts whatsoever.

"We had about a metre deep of water at one end of the courts and half a metre at the other.

"It was just like a pond.

"The water flooded over the flood defence wall, lifted our carpets - which are about 12 tonnes per court - like pieces of silk and threw them to one side."

Mr Williams added that fork lift trucks needed to be used to remove the 85 tonnes of carpet on the courts, which filled four lorries when it was taken away.

He said: "We had seven tennis courts - £180,000 worth of carpet - totally ruined.

"We are only a social club - there are houses around here who were far more tragically affected.

"We now haven't got flood insurance. Next time it happens we will have to self-insure."

The club has been up and running again for a while, with all courts replaced by Spring, but James Grindell, head tennis coach, said Saturday was the official opening.

Mr Grindell told the BBC that Ms Procter had heard about the plight of the club and wanted to visit.

She will cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the seven tennis courts, which Mr Grindell, said was "a prestigious thing for a club".

He added: "She will come and see our story. She will come and open the courts and see where we are at now."

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