Padel court noise reduction plan rejected

Concerns about the noise disturbance to local residents from padel players have prompted councillors to reject plans for two courts at a gym in Harrogate

A retrospective planning application for the outdoor courts and social area already built at the David Lloyd gym in Oakdale Place had previously been rejected in September over noise concerns and the impact on local ecology.

In a follow up application, the company proposed mitigation measures, including acoustic barriers and upgraded "asymmetric" lighting designed to reduce spill into the nearby Oak Beck wildlife corridor.

However, a North Yorkshire Council planning committee was not convinced the measures would reduce the disturbance.

The decision was taken after hearing from Patrick Fitzgerald, chairman of the Oakbeck Valley Residents Association.

He told councillors it was "not credible" that the barrier would screen all residents from the noise, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Residents will have to tolerate this continuous noise seven days a week and the tranquil nature of the Oak Beck Valley will be destroyed forever.

"Last summer, this was a constant intrusion into our lives. We know what it's like. On hot days, we couldn't open the windows and dreaded coming home again to be greeted again by this noise.

"I don't think anybody here would want permanent noise in their homes and garden every day for the rest of their life."

Josie Caven, chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee, also spoke out against the application at the meeting.

"While the proposal may provide physical and mental health benefits to its members, these are outweighed by the widespread harm to residential immunity, including noise, light pollution, and ecological disturbance."

Committee member Peter Lacey said he accepted that the site of the padel courts was previously a tennis court.

"I like to think that tennis is more of a gentile sport that you can sort of cope with in the background. Padel is this percussive and very different noise.

"The objection then that I would make is purely on noise. I suppose the easy thing, and it was suggested once, that if padel is so important to the business case and to the local community then stick it indoors."

Councillors voted against the application despite planning officers recommending approval.

The proposal has divided opinion in the community, with the council receiving 175 letters of support and 34 objections.

David Lloyd Clubs has been approached for comment but previously said it had placed voluntary restriction on the operational hours of the facility and carried out a noise assessment.

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