The Times reported yesterday that the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is proposing to build a vastly expanded national training centre on the Bank of England-owned site that presently stages the Wimbledon qualifying tournament in Roehampton. It is described as a cross between St George’s Park, the FA’s hub in Burton Upon Trent , (but is based in a largely rural area), and the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

To the benefit of tennis, probably; meeting local commuity needs, improbable.

South West London is already dominated by tennis for four months of the year, to the exclusion of other sporting activities. The centre would make that an all year reality. Does that reflect national or local needs?

We have the prospect of another White Elephant in the area. Stag Brewery is now up for sale and unlikely to see development any time soon. Wimbledon expansion is subject to delay for legal reasons. And now a proposal which could be equally mired in planning and cost difficulties.

Vaunted ambition?