Athlone Tennis Club has been granted planning permission for a major upgrade to their facilities near the town centre.
The club had lodged an application in October for the construction of an Air Dome to encapsulate three tennis courts.
Air domes are air supported structures that are designed to roof all manner of sports pitches and courts.
The free standing structure are generally a large clear span, covered with one or more layers of special PVC coated fabric and anchored to the ground, with air pressure used to keep the structure static.
Plans also include an associated practice wall and have been approved by Westmeath County Council with 4 conditions attached
Pat Conway is an Official with Athlone Tennis Club and says while there is much work to be done, the plans have been part of the club's dreams for many years.
''It means that we have facilities to play all year round, and really 24 hours a day. And it is incredible in that it gives us more space as well. It also enables us to link in with Tennis Ireland and become a regional center for tennis in the area and to attract national competitions to Athlone and give us a much higher profile than we have at the moment.''
