Decisions are due over changes which would see almost £400,000 spent on tennis courts in parks around Norwich - but the most controversial proposal will not be dealt with just yet.
Changes to tennis courts in Harford Park, Lakenham Recreation Ground, Eaton Park and Heigham Park are proposed as part of Norwich City Council's proposals.
It would see hard courts refurbished and flood-lighting installed at Harford and Lakenham. Floodlighting would also be installed at three courts in Eaton Park and 10 grass courts at Heigham Park replaced with three all-weather floodlit courts.
For the revamp to go ahead, it would mean the council would have to invest £140,000 from its capital budget, but the council would also have to be successful in a bid for £195,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association. A further £55,000 would come from contributions made by housing developers.
Norwich City Council has applied to its own planning department for the revamps and three of the proposals - at Harford, Lakenham and Eaton - will be discussed when the planning committee meets on Thursday.
There have been a handful of objections to those, but the plans are recommended for approval.
However, the application for Heigham Park, which is far more controversial, will not be discussed at that meeting.
Council officers say that application is considered a major development, so has a longer period to be determined within,
Denise Carlo, Green city councillor for Nelson ward, is among some 60 who have objected to the proposal. She said: 'The application treats Heigham Park, a nationally designated heritage asset, as subordinate to the goal of expanding Norwich Parks Tennis (NPT).
'However, in my view, the benefits of NPT in this location would be outweighed by the substantial harm to the affected heritage asset.'
Another objector, who wrote to the council urging the application be turned down said: 'It reminds me a bit of Lakenham lido - once you lose something special you will never get it back.'
Roger Ryan, Labour's cabinet member for customer care and leisure, had said it was 'too good an opportunity to miss'.
He said: 'Using public funds to heavily subsidise grass tennis is simply something we can't do.'
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