Padel is a fast-growing racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played mainly in doubles on a small, enclosed court where walls are part of the game.
Members in the vicinity Corkscrew Hill Tennis Club have concerns about the proposal by Bolt Padel Ltd, to install one single and four double Padel courts on the area of the existing tennis courts. The current proposals are to build a small clubhouse comprising reception and a café and floodlighting adjacent to the courts. Existing parking facilities are considered adequate by the developers even though they estimate that those using the
facilities would rise from the current maximum of 24 people using the tennis courts to 36 people using the Padel courts at any one time.
At the end of June, a meeting for local residents was organised by the developers where their proposals were presented and discussed. The general feeling is that there is no opposition to the cultural and sporting facilities
provided at this site such as football, bowling, Theatre and children’s playground, but there are serious concerns about the increase in traffic as well as public safety, noise and light pollution. The weekday operating hours are
proposed to be from 7am until 10pm while drinking facilities will remain open to the public until 11pm. The proposed hours are slightly shorter at weekends.
Plans are only provisional at present and as and when planning applications are submitted, we will review them and consider what action to take.