What can I do to object o padel court plans?

[thetinsoldier]

The tennis club next door to me (in a park) has submitted an application for two padel courts in the middle of the park. 😭

It’s being discussed in our town council on Weds so I’ve asked if I can go along to object.

i can’t believe it. We are far too close to the courts - the acoustic report suggested houses were 80m away but it’s recommended that houses are 100-160m from two padel courts.

I have contacted the planning guy at my local council, plus my town councillors.

If anyone has any other advice, then I’d love to hear it!

What else can I do? I just want to cry at the thought of all the noise and disruption, and not being able to use my garden. Proposed opening times are 8am to 10pm every day… 😭

How much would a specialist lawyer cost?!

have you involved your neighbours?

You need to do more than simply object. Have you already done so as part of the consultation process. If you attend the meeting and ask to speak(you may need to confirm this in advance) you would have a limited time to state your argument against and there may be a restricted number who can do so for and against. Ideally have evidence of other residents’ support, in person, writing or a petition, and that of your local councillor who may also be allowed to speak. You need to base your objection on planning grounds. Decide in advance what compromise, if any, might be acceptable - restricted hours, better noise insulation and so on.

If there is already a tennis club there how is padel going to be any noisier?

Is it taking additional space from the park?

I’m going to post letters through all my neighbours’ letterboxes.

padel is much noisier than tennis: walls round the court, hard rackets, four players, faster game do more yelling etc.

Get your neighbours together and work with the council.

ETA I see others have suggested similar.

Padel is Much noisier than tennis. Friend of mine got together with neighbours and lobbied and the park backed down. I can't give you any more detail (I don't know it) but it is possible

Harder rackets. Balls bouncing off glass walls and the metal cage. It’s so much noisier than tennis.

We had similar and successfully challenged. Highlight the noise, some of the comments in the USA about how unbearable the noise is etc.

I’ve just done a quick google and there are an astonishing number of padel court applications being objected to, or refused, so you should find some good tips and I’ll bet some of the quoted residents in those areas would be willing to have a chat. Good luck, it’s not easy putting yourself out there to lead on something like this. 💪🏼

My daughter plays padel. I gather it is more akin to squash where balls bounce off the walls as well as to each side of the net. It will be much noisier than tennis.

Have you made an objection online, and have you looked on your local council's planning portal to see what other comments and objections have been made, especially from statutory consultees?

If it's being discussed in public by the planning committee then that implies there have been a lot of objectives already. You might find it reassuring to have a look

I live in Portugal. Padel has been a big thing here for some time. It is definitely much noisier than tennis.