Decision due on Queens Park Recreation Ground padel tennis courts

An application proposing the courts with “means of enclosure, canopy, and associated service building” to include a cafe/shop area – at Queens Park Recreation Ground, on Boundary Road – will come before the planning committee at the town hall on Tuesday, November 5.

According to a report to the committee, the application site covers an area of 0.15 hectares and forms the southern end of tarmacked playing courts, hard-standing, set within the recreation ground.

Within the area of hard-standing there are currently two small football pitches running east-west and then three basketball courts running north-south.

The proposed padel courts are to be placed upon on where the basketball courts are located.

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“This proposal is for the construction of a padel tennis facility comprising four padel tennis courts, with an associated clubhouse building,” says the report.

“The applicant explains that padel is a rapidly growing sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, with their aim to reduce childhood obesity by promoting active lifestyles through padel tennis, engaging with schools, communities, and parents.

“The four courts would be situated on the three existing basketball courts in Queens Park.

“The courts would be laid out with artificial blue grass and enclosed with a galvanised steel frame with mesh and tempered safety glass.

“The agent has confirmed that the service building’s primary use is to provide an area to lend equipment and greet players for their booking so any drinks/snacks sold will be entirely ancillary.”

The proposed padel tennis courts would be operational Monday to Sunday, from 6am to 10pm.

This application has been advertised with neighbouring notification letters and a site notice.

Twelve letters of objection have been received.

The reasons for the objections, as stated in the report, include that it would result in the loss of the basketball courts which is a “fast-growing” sport, “interrupt” the view over the park, “visual harm”, and noise from the use and times of operation.

The recommendation for the committee is to grant planning permission with authority delegated to the head of planning services to “add, amend, or remove conditions as they deem necessary” and “issue the decision” when confirmation is received that the Sport England objection is resolved.