Lansdown Lawn Tennis & Squash Racquets Club is appealing after its controversial plans for padel courts were refused by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
A planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State will review whether the council’s planning committee was right to refuse the application last August.
Padel is similar to squash but played with a solid racquet. Originally from Mexico, it has boomed in popularity since lockdown and is one of the fastest-growing sports.
A majority of members on the committee refused the application, against the advice of the planning officer, amid concern that the louder noise of the ball strike and increased comings and goings at the Northfields site would increase disturbance and harm neighbours’ mental health.
The club said that 60 members were having to drive from Bath to Bristol regularly to play the sport.
Its plans involve replacing one of the 11 tennis courts with two padel courts and a mini tennis court.
The padel courts would be surrounded by three-metre-high glazed glass to reduce noise but be just three and a half metres from the nearest house.
To establish predicted noise levels, measurements were taken from the use of the established padel court facility at Redland Green Tennis Club in Bristol.
Planning consultants acting for the Lansdown club say in their appeal statement that the council’s planning committee was wrong to disregard the advice of the professional council officer, adding: “It is our view that the reason for refusal is incorrect.
“The rigorous noise assessment undertaken demonstrates there would not be a significant adverse noise impact; therefore, the proposal should not be refused on noise grounds.”
Councillor Lucy Hodge (Liberal Democrat, Lansdown), who is vice chair of the planning committee, has asked that the appeal be dismissed, maintaining that the proposal would result in “significant harm to the residential amenity of neighbouring occupiers”.
Among the letters of objection sent to the planning inspector is one from a neighbour whose property overlooks the proposed padel courts.
They say: “The sound of tennis being played on the courts is clearly audible from my property. The sound of a soft ball played on a stringed racket is acceptable.
“Some players make more noise than others, but that doesn’t tend to last long and again is acceptable.
“Padel is a different matter. A hard ball on a hard racket played at a faster pace, with the attendant increased excitement generating considerably more noise of an entirely different type to lawn tennis, is not an acceptable noise intrusion into an otherwise quiet residential area.
“Lawn tennis is a long-standing feature in this area. Padel will change the face and nature of the club to an unacceptable level.”
Another neighbour says: “I am vehemently opposed to allowing the building of padel courts at Lansdown tennis club. I moved from Spain to Bath in 2022 and bought my house next door to the club.
“I have direct experience of living close to padel courts in Spain and can assure you that the gunshot sounds and constant shouting can be heard from 100 yards away.
“My previous house in Spain was indeed this distance and the noise pollution was a constant blight. Had I known this sport was going to be allowed in Lansdown Tennis Club I certainly would not have purchased the house.
“Padel is in itself a great sport but one that needs to be positioned sufficiently away from residential housing.”
