Fury over plans for super-sized padel tennis centre in warehouse surrounded by homes as neighbours say 'tremendous noise' will stop people 'relaxing in their gardens'
Plans for the site were lodged with the local council, which sparked backlash from residents arguing that the centre would create a huge traffic problem and be very noisy in the area.
Since the company, Advantage Padel, tabled the proposals for the warehouse in Christchurch, Dorset, 25 locals have now objected to it.
The new centre will have nine full-size courts, as well as four singles courts, which would mean up to 44 people could play at the same time.
This would add to an already established padel tennis business located within the same industrial complex.
Padel tennis has recently risen in popularity and has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK.
Unlike in tennis, a padel racket is solid with no strings and is thicker, meaning it makes a very loud noise when striking the ball.
Locals say as the new centre would be open from 7am to 10pm for seven days a week, it would them 'no respite' to those affected.
Resident Mark Anderson said: 'Padel tennis is very loud and multiple courts being used all times of day and evening will be very disruptive.
'I feel that this facility will add a lot of noise in the area.'
Julia Gladstone said: 'This facility will result in a huge increase in the volume of traffic entering and exiting a small complex of business units.
'The centre will be open from early morning to late evening and will create a high level of noise which will effect local residents and have a negative impact on their use of the garden for relaxation.
'The increase in both noise and air pollution that will be caused by the introduction of such a large facility cannot be ignored.'
Kevan Thornton added: 'The huge number of padel courts will generate a tremendous noise which despite being in an enclosed building will have an adverse effect on local offices and neighbours.'
Many people also raised concerns that the new centre would push out a much smaller padel business just 350 yards away.
The PicklePad, the UK's first dedicated pickleball and padel indoor centre, opened in January just around the corner from where Advantage Padel want to put their new centre.
Hayley Richardson said the PicklePad is already meeting the demand.
She said: 'The applicant has failed to acknowledge the existence of a similar, established facility within close proximity.
'Their assertion that no such facility exists in Christchurch, and that there is an unmet demand, is therefore inaccurate.'
Richard McWilliam said it will cause 'misery' for residents.
He added: 'I enjoy sport and fitness and I am aware padel tennis is a popular sport and I am always supportive of any sporting or health facility opening.
'I think it is very short sighted to approve another very similar facility when PicklePad opened so recently.'
Not everyone is against the plans. Jonathan Facer said it would bring new jobs to the local economy.
He added: 'It will give more access to a fantastic new sport. It will be great to have one of largest padel tennis centres in the south of England, right here is Christchurch. I can't wait!'
Padel has the same scoring system as tennis, but different rules, strokes and techniques.
It was invented in Mexico in the 1960s, but soared in popularity during the Covid pandemic as it could be played outside and did not involve physical contact.
By 2023 there were more than 25 million active players across 90 countries.
In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association said the number of courts have increased from 50 in 2019 to 350, and they aim to have 1,000 courts by the end of next year.
The bats are solid and the ball can be hit off the court walls, like in squash.
Both these things result in it being considered far noisier than tennis, with some likening the sound to gunfire.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fears that London house price fall will spread through UK
Fears are growing that a downturn in the prime London property market may spread across the country as a recent rise in stamp duty forces sellers to lower their asking prices. Evidence suggests the ultra-rich are renting rather than buying mansions in the capital to avoid the hated tax. Stamp duty is paid by buyers when they buy a property and in April two key thresholds were changed – meaning most homebuyers now pay it. Property portal Zoopla found that 83 per cent of buyers would pay stamp duty if they bought a home today, compared to 49 per cent before April. This has led more buyers to negotiate a price cut to compensate for the extra tax. Some 951,000 now pay the levy. That is still below a recent peak of 1.2million but the figure is set to rise sharply as more people are dragged into the tax net. More than a third – or £4.5billion – of the money raised by stamp duty comes from property deals in the capital. In London, where property prices are higher than the rest of the country, it now costs home movers up to £2,500 more than before April if they buy an average house costing £532,449. But the impact of the rise is most keenly felt in central London locations where prices are being slashed by up to 30 per cent to attract foreign buyers. The stamp duty charge on a £20million mansion in Belgravia or Mayfair is £2.3million for a UK purchaser. For a person not resident in the UK, acquiring a second home in the city, the bill is about £3.7million. This used to be seen as the price of admission to the London lifestyle. But now even the mega-rich are baulking at the bill. Property experts say the international set are now preferring to rent not buy in London. 'The annual rent on a £20million pad would be about £570,000,' said Neil Hudson of the Built Place consultancy. 'On that basis, if you were a UK purchaser, you could rent for four years for what you would have to pay in stamp duty alone.' There are concerns the downbeat mood in central London could spread nationwide. 'At the height of the boom in 2015, London's properties became overpriced and have been largely moving sideways ever since,' said Richard Donnell, head of research at Zoopla. 'This is bad news for the whole market since London has been the engine of house price growth, with the effects rippling out to other regions.'
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fresh boost for Nigel Farage as Britain's top firms book slots at Reform conference
Labour 's panic over Reform deepened last night amid fears that big businesses are following voters and increasingly supporting Nigel Farage 's party. One Cabinet minister confessed to The Mail on Sunday that many leading companies will now attend Reform's high-profile autumn conference in Birmingham. It came as Mr Farage insisted yesterday that his own health was fine, dismissing talk that his lifestyle and relentless schedule were taking their toll, and blaming suggestions to the contrary on rumours spread by Labour and Tory rivals 'because it's the last card they've got'. He joked that he doubted the British Medical Association 'would hold me up as a pin-up boy' but declared: 'I'm feeling good.' However, he later admitted that he was trying to 'moderate with age'. All the parties are currently gearing up for the autumn conference season, with Labour's gathering in Liverpool expected to dwarf the Conservative event in Manchester. Traditionally, conference attendance by major corporate leaders tends to be highest at whichever party is in power, with the official Opposition party reduced to the second-best showing. But one leading Labour minister privately forecast that Reform was likely to upend that tradition this year, saying all the major businesses they had spoken to had said they would buy a stand at the Reform event in Birmingham. The minister said: 'They say they have to. It came as Mr Farage insisted yesterday that his own health was fine, dismissing talk that his lifestyle and relentless schedule were taking their toll, and blaming suggestions to the contrary on rumours spread by Labour and Tory rivals 'because it's the last card they've got' The forecasts come after Sir Keir Starmer made plain that even though Reform had only four MPs, Mr Farage's party – which is leading in recent polls – was Labour's main enemy at the next General Election 'They said that it's the polling numbers – it's making everyone feel they can't miss it this year.' That has stoked Labour fears over the momentum Mr Farage's party is likely to get from the conference season. One Labour source said: 'Business leaders want a presence at Reform partly because they are an unknown – they want their teams to get more detail on policy.' The forecasts come after Sir Keir Starmer made plain that even though Reform had only four MPs, Mr Farage's party – which is leading in recent polls – was Labour's main enemy at the next General Election. Last night there were claims that Labour in the North West was seeking to hire a campaign worker to help save Cabinet ministers Jonathan Reynolds and Angela Rayner from losing their Commons' seats to Reform at the next election.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Huge car brand returning to the UK selling all EV line-up only available in four countries
The legendary manufacturer's return to Great Britain signals the accelerating evolution of the automotive industry, with petrol-guzzling muscle cars making way for emission-free automobiles An iconic name in the automotive world is making a clean break from its past and gearing up for a major return to the UK market following an eight-year absence. American luxury brand Cadillac, which has long been associated with big V8s and bold design, will be offering a lineup of fully electric vehicles when it relaunches on British soil. Cadillac's return is a bold move by General Motors (GM), which established its European headquarters in Zurich back in 2021 as part of a renewed continental push. The first UK-bound model will be the Cadillac Lyriq, a premium all-electric SUV retailing at around £68,000, that has so far only been available in Switzerland, France, Sweden and Germany. It comes after UK drivers were warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule. According to CEO of GM Europe, Pere Brugal, the brand will focus solely on electric vehicles, with the UK being one of its key markets going forward. He told Autocar: "It is one of the [markets] that we're focusing on right now." While the UK release date hasn't yet been revealed, the CEO did confirm the Lyric will be available soon after final testing is completed in Ireland, and that Cadillac is aiming to launch in the UK with at least two models. But Mr Brugal declined to confirm which ones will be joining the Lyriq, saying: "We want to make sure we launch not only with one model portfolio. We want to make sure we launch with at least a two-model portfolio." The specifications of the Lyriq are impressive — the entry-level version offers a range of around 330 miles and generates 520bhp. Those wanting an extra boost can choose the performance-focused top-tier model, which increases power to 606bhp. However, as Mr Brugal pointed out, launching in the UK is not just about shipping cars across the Atlantic. The ability to import Cadillac's growing portfolio will depend heavily on the alignment of emission regulations and safety standards between the US and Europe. "If the regulations between the US and Europe harmonise, it will make our life easier," he explained. "We will bring a lot of benefit to the final customer, because that will increase the range of options.' He also noted the possibility of designing a bespoke GM model specifically for European tastes. Unlike previous Cadillac ventures in the UK, the relaunch will eschew traditional dealership networks. Instead, the all-electric models will be sold using an online-based model, supported by pop-up 'experience' centres inviting customers to see, drive and configure their cars. This strategic attempt to modernise the buying experience mirrors the approach used by other EV manufacturers such as Polestar. As the Lyriq prepares to hit UK roads, Cadillac's all-electric resurgence signals not just the return of an iconic brand, but also the accelerating evolution of the automotive industry, with tradition giving way to innovation and petrol-guzzling muscle cars making way for emission-free automobiles.
