Town to get first padel courts in £300,000 upgrade
The facility will be built at Mowsbury Golf and Squash Complex in Bedford after it was approved by Conservative mayor Tom Wootton.
The project, part of Bedford Borough Council's sports facilities strategic review, is expected to generate an annual net income of £40,000 for the complex through increased usage, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The report to the mayor said there was currently no provision in the borough for padel, a fast-growing racquet sport in Europe.
It added the Mowsbury site was chosen due to its complementary sporting offer, central location, and access from rural areas.
A four-week public consultation held in May and June 2025 found strong support for the proposal as 82% of respondents said improvements would encourage them to use the facility more.
The new padel courts, which look similar to tennis courts but are a third of a the size, will be located within the existing car park footprint.
The decision can be implemented on 11 August if it is not called in for debate by councillors.
If completed on schedule, the courts are expected to open by next March.
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