Plans to install floodlights at Bishopton Tennis Club in a bid to extend playing time during darker months have been presented to Renfrewshire Council.

The institution has submitted an application for planning permission for the introduction of the equipment at its courts in the village’s Poplar Avenue.

The club, which is said to have been created in 1920, is keen to add eight columns at the facility so it can expand playing opportunities from October to April.

A supporting statement explained: “Bishopton Tennis Club has kept annual fees low and all residents in Bishopton and Dargavel are within walking distance of the tennis club.

“This led to us conducting some research earlier this year to ask local residents what they wanted from a local tennis club.

“In addition to a range of activities such as pickleball and cardio tennis they wanted to play on good facilities along with new initiatives to promote wellbeing and fitness all year round, even in the darker winter months.

“This became the focus for our vision to extend facilities/playing opportunities and fully meet the needs of our local community.”

The club, which has three outdoor courts, boasts members from as young as four all the way through to 89 years old.

It said to achieve its vision and provide a range of tennis activities year round it became “obvious” it needed floodlights.

“Adding floodlights to our courts will extend the playing time from October to April,” the statement added.

“Many of our initiatives need to stop in October and good habits which are beneficial for wellbeing and mental health as well as physical fitness and tennis improvement fall away as children/young adults are at school during daylight hours, as are working adults.

“It becomes an annual task to ensure both our members and local residents restart their programmes.

“It would have a greater impact on young people participating if we could extend the winter hours which would allow us to extend the number of initiatives we could offer all year round without the stop-start effect and ensure physical fitness and wellbeing is always available.

“Floodlights would allow us to develop our own coaching programmes for youth members as they currently must travel to other clubs with outdoor lights to gain these qualifications and allow us to provide after-school clubs during the winter months.”

A decision will be made on the application at a later date.