Dismayed tennis players have discovered they must stump up cash to use previously free courts following a quarter-of-a-million pound revamp.

Six of the council-owned playing surfaces across Thanet were graced with a £255,234 cash injection from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) earlier this year.

A recent overhaul saw the beleaguered and flood-prone courts’ revitalised with fresh markings and smooth concrete.

However, fans of the sport have now learned what they thought was a “rare act of generosity”, comes with a £7-an-hour price tag.

Veteran player Derek Heptinstall told KentOnline: “For years a group of friends and I in Westgate have been playing tennis on uneven and stone-strewn tennis courts, covered in weeds and flooded after a heavy rain.

“There were also missing back fences and balls were lost in surrounding hedges or ruined by black stains.

“After a while uneven bounces and filthy tennis balls seemed just part of the game.”

Work on most of the courts is almost finished, and all are expected to be up and running by the end of the month.

Those receiving refurbishment are Spencer Square and Montefiore Games Centre in Ramsgate, Memorial Recreation Ground in Broadstairs, Hartsdown Park and Westbrook Games Centre, Margate and St Mildred’s Games Centre in Westgate-on-Sea.

The LTA will manage bookings with customers able to grab slots online.

The decision whether to charge for the use of the courts is left up to individual councils, the tennis organisation has confirmed.

However, local authorities must have a plan to safeguard the future maintenance of the facilities.

Some, such as Thanet District Council (TDC), decide to make players pay in order to fund any future repairs.

Mr Heptinstall, an 87-year-old retiree, said while he is sure the new charges are well-meaning the new levy “does raise some issues”.

“We now learn that a price will have to be paid for what at first seemed to be a welcomed and rare act of generosity by the government and the tennis body,” he said

“I do understand that cash-strapped councils are keen to take advantage of the scheme.

“I’m sure it’s well intentioned, but it does raise some issues.

“In most areas access to tennis courts has always been free so the imposition of charges is seen to be yet another way that central and local government can extract money at the public’s expense.”

Despite the disappointment at having to fork out, Mr Heptinstall recognises the scheme could be a good thing for Thanet residents.

“It opens the prospect of greatly expanding the sport by offering free sessions of play and coaching to sections of the population that it previously never reached.

“Plainly, bringing our dying tennis courts back to life and giving more people the opportunity to take up a sporting activity will be good for the public’s health and well-being,” he said.

On announcing the improvements in January, TDC said in a statement: “Alongside the investment, us and tennis operators will work with the LTA to deliver a range of activities, free of charge, across the park sites.

“These are expected to include free weekly organised park tennis sessions for people of all ages, playing levels and experience.

“Equipment will be provided, meaning that people will not need a tennis partner or their own racket. Local tennis leagues will also provide opportunities to get active through local competition.”

More recently, a TDC spokeswoman said the new fee - which includes £40 for a household annual pass - will help ensure courts are well-maintained.

“The tennis court refurbishment project is an exciting opportunity to improve and modernise six public tennis courts for the benefit of local people, increasing sporting facilities in Thanet,” she said.

“To ensure that the courts can be maintained to a high standard in the long term, there needs to be a charge for their use.

“When the courts reopen, members of the public can book sessions for £7 per hour.

“Annual passes will be available for households at a cost of £40 per year.

“There will also be a number of free sessions available weekly as well as other grassroots programmes to help introduce more people to the game.

”Income generated from court hire will support ongoing maintenance and resurfacing works.

”Details of the new operator for the tennis courts will be announced soon.”

An LTA spokesman added: “We do not require local authorities receiving investment through the project to charge for the use of their courts.

“It is a requirement of funding that there be a long-term sustainability plan in place to ensure that refurbished courts can be maintained for the benefit of local communities for many years to come.”