Permission for padel court could be refused after concerns raised about noise
The court is on the site of an old tennis court at Elcot Park Hotel, Newbury
Retrospective permission for the installation of a padel court goes before a West Berkshire Council planning committee next week – with a recommendation that it is refused – because it doesn’t have a bus stop and the balls are too noisy.
Council planners want it binned – because the court, on the site of an old tennis court at Elcot Park Hotel, has a ‘lack of active travel and public transport options for the site’.
This is despite the court having written support from 63 people, and the council’s own demonstrable lack of padel courts.
“The proposed development will not reduce the need for travel, improve and promote opportunities for healthy and safe travel, minimise the impacts of travel on the environment and help tackle climate change, or promote sustainable transport,” highways bosses said.
The proposed external changes to the appearance of the tennis court to a padel court have been the removal of the netting fence, replacement with clear glass walls and additional netting above, the positioning of new benches around the outside of the court and sun parasols
It is already a big hit, according to the supporters of the application, who say it promotes community and fitness, adds benefit to the hotel, is a great community facility, and that they would actually like more courts as there are no other facilities nearby,
The council’s own environmental health team have also put in an objection, as well as a weighty explanation about the noise a padel ball makes.
“In considering the assessment, it is important to recognise that padel courts generate noise with materially different characteristics to those associated with traditional tennis,” it says.
“Whereas tennis is typically characterised by relatively infrequent ball-racket impacts, padel involves frequent and repeated interactions between the ball, racket, and surrounding court structures, including glass panels and mesh fencing.
“These interactions produce sharp, distinct and impulsive sounds, often with a noticeable high-frequency content.
“Furthermore, the semi-enclosed nature of the court promotes reflection and containment of sound energy, increasing both the persistence and perceived prominence of these impact events.
“Consequently, padel activity gives rise to noise that is more repetitive, more acoustically distinctive, and more likely to attract attention than conventional open-court sports.”
This latest application is an application for temporary planning permission for 24months and was put in retrospectively, after the works had been carried out and the court usage commenced.
But there is some good news.
“The conversion of the tennis court to a padel court has not materially altered the setting of house given the similarity of the structure,” said the council’s own conservation officer.
“When the lights are on, this likely results in a small change in setting, but not one that is considered to change how the heritage asset of Elcot Park Hotel is experienced.
“As such I have no objection to the retention of the padel court.”
The matter goes before West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee on 21 October.