North Yorkshire Council has approved plans by Harrogate Racquets Club to resurface its tennis courts and install new LED floodlights.

The members club on Firs Road was founded in 1924 on the same site and as it approaches its centenary next year, there will be a major upgrade of the facility which offers a place to play tennis, table tennis and badminton.

It includes four tennis courts with artificial grass but planning documents state they have been in use for 14 years and are wearing out.

The foundations under the courts have also “deteriorated significantly” and the fencing needs replacing.

Three of the four courts are floodlit but the lights were installed more than 20 years ago. The plans will see the structure under the courts reinforced, the surface of the courts replaced with new state-of-the-art artificial grass, new fencing installed and floodlights on courts 1-3.

Read more:

• St Aidan’s floodlights raises old concerns over light pollution
• Rooms at closed addiction centre near Harrogate could be let to holiday makers

Plans submitted by St Aidan’s CE High School in 2020 to install new floodlights on its sports pitches proved to be controversial due to the potential for light pollution on neighbouring properties.

Harrogate Racquets Club said it sought expert advice and believes the new lighting will reduce the flare currently emanating from the courts and will meet guidance on obtrusive light.

The club sent letters to neighbouring properties and received six responses, none of which raised concerns about the plans.

It has outreach programmes with local schools including Oatlands Primary and Junior schools, Harrogate Ladies College and Pannal Primary School.

The club also runs coaching programmes with over 200 children participating in the weekly programmes across all three sports during term times as well as easter and summer camps.

It’s situated in a residential cul-de-sac off Leeds Road on the south side of Harrogate, opposite the Oatlands Marks & Spencer supermarket.

The facilities are open every day of the week between 8am and 10pm.

When George Chan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012, he was determined to carry on playing the sport he loves.

The 60-year-old from Harrogate has not just carried on — he’s excelled.

In Berlin over the weekend, George picked up a doubles gold medal and silver medal in the Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championship.

Last month he also won a gold medal in the Parkinson’s UK Championship.

George told the Stray Ferret that winning the gold in Berlin, representing England alongside American Nenan Bach, was an emotional moment.

“When we won I hit two smashes to win the game, and we both hugged each other. It was two different nations with one common cause. It was very touching.”

Parkinson’s is a brain condition that can cause involuntary shaking.

Table tennis competitions for people with Parkinson’s are played with the same rules as traditional table tennis but with some minor tweaks, such as competitors are allowed to put their non-playing hand on the table for balance.

George went to Harrogate Grammar School before moving to Manchester to raise his family. In 2004 he returned to Harrogate through work and joined the Harrogate Racquets Club table tennis league, a sport he’d played since university.

Read more:

• Young Harrogate tennis star, 12, makes Wimbledon debut
• Boom in padel tennis brings new centre to Harrogate

Playing a decade after diagnosis

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012 but was determined to carry on playing in defiance of the disease. He said table tennis helps people with Parkinson’s because you have to think and move quickly.

“When you are diagnosed the world caves in around you, but why give up what I love ? 10 years on I’m still managing to hold my own against able people in the Harrogate league. On the face of it, not a lot of people know I have Parkinson’s.

“And table tennis is the best sport for us, it’s fast for the mind and body. Some of the shots you hardly have time to think so it helps your subconscious.

“The more we can utilise natural remedies the better it is for us.”

George was inspired by fellow competitors during the week in Berlin.

He added:

“The amazing thing was how gutsy some of the players are despite lack of mobility and shakiness. It was quite amazing to see. It’s the biggest group of Parkinson’s people I’ve ever been with and they had a very upbeat outlook on life.

“Once you got onto the table it was surprising how optimistic and alive the players became. There was a common cause to help relieve Parkinson’s and find a cure. Table tennis has brought us together.”

George coaches youth classes table tennis classes at Harrogate Racquets Club on Firs Road. If you are interested in playing visit its website.