A fast‑growing pickleball community in Torfaen is appealing for help to bring two abandoned courts in Panteg back into use.
Local groups Pickle Belles, IYGIG Pickleball, If You Dink I Dink, Pickleheads and Torfaen Pickleball Club say demand for the sport has surged in recent months, with waiting lists now longer than the number of available spaces.
The only dedicated outdoor pickleball courts in Torfaen are in Pontypool.
Panteg House Employees’ Club has agreed to let Pickle Belles take over two unused courts on its grounds. Volunteers are ready to clear weeds and debris over a couple of weekends, but they now need help from someone with the skills to repair or resurface the playing area.
Organisers say the space could potentially hold three or four pickleball courts, which would be used not only by the established groups but also by the wider community. They say the sport is becoming increasingly popular in both primary and secondary schools because it is accessible to all ages.
The project will require fundraising, and the groups are inviting local businesses to offer sponsorship or discounted work. In return, they say they will promote supporters througth their social media and publicly acknowledge their help.
More than 170 women have signed up to play across the two main groups in just a few months, but only around half can take part each week due to limited court availability.
Organisers say they are hopeful that by spreading the word, they can find the expertise needed and possibly even a tree surgeon – to help bring the courts back to life.