Padel courts plan refused over noise concerns

5 hours ago

Joe GerrardLocal Democracy Reporting Service

An impression shows how padel courts planned at the Dunnington Sports and Social Club could look

Dunnington Playing Fields Association Four people playing a doubles match on an enclosed padel court, with one player in the foreground swinging their racket as the others prepare to return the ball, all inside a brightly lit indoor sports facility. — An impression shows how padel courts planned at the Dunnington Sports and Social Club could look

Plans to install two padel courts at a sports club in a York village have been refused.

The courts would have been built at Dunnington Sports Club, on Common Road, to offer a wider range of sports to visitors.

However, objectors claimed noise from the courts would disturb people playing and watching bowls nearby, as well as posing a hazard to cricketers.

It is the second padel court application to be blocked in the city this year, after City of York Council refused a similar proposal at York Sports Club on Shipton Road.

Council planning officers ruled the new courts did not justify the loss of land for existing playing fields and the relocation of football and cricket pitches.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, they also decided the benefits of the development did not outweigh the loss of green belt land.

The club proposed building two courts at the centre of its site

Google A two‑storey brick building with signs for The Sports Bar and Stevens Decorators, partly obscured by a hedge and a tree, with a gated entrance to Dunnington Bowling Club on the left and a grassy area in the foreground under a bright, partly cloudy sky. — The club proposed building two courts at the centre of its site

Padel is played on an enclosed court about a third of the size those used for tennis, with balls played off glass walls similar to squash.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the sport's governing body, stated it was easy to learn and sociable, contributing to its growing popularity.

The club proposed building two courts at the centre of its site, which would be fitted with daylight and time-controlled LED lighting and turned off at 22:00.

Plans stated it would allow the main football pitch to be moved to an underused part of the site and free up space for extra parking.

The proposals were supported by Dunnington Parish Council and the LTA, which called on the club to ensure the courts were available on a pay-to-play basis.

However, Sport England, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Football Foundation also objected over changes to existing pitches at the club.

Three local objections were lodged while bowling, cricket and football clubs who use existing facilities on the site claimed the football pitches were required and already in short supply.

One objector said: "The location of a padel court in such close proximity to the main football pitch is madness."

Others claimed noise would travel from the courts and disturb those watching and playing lawn bowls.

There was also an objection claiming cricketers fielding near the courts were at risk of injury and the new courts would affect the visual enjoyment of those watching cricket.

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