Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
18
Dec
‘This is the wrong place for a court’: Objectors urge Harrogate padel court appeal to be refused
A residents' group has urged the government to turn down an appeal against an enforcement notice over noisy padel courts at David Llloyd in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Council served notice on the centre on October 10, ordering the company to cease using the courts on Oakdale Place and remove them within 30 days.
It follows complaints from residents about noise from the outdoor facility, which was built in December 2023.
The council denied retrospective planning permission for the two outdoor courts in September after it felt a noise assessment submitted in support of the plans did not “sufficiently account for the impacts created by the padel courts”.
However, David Lloyd took the council’s enforcement notice to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.
It described part of the notice — which requires the padel court structures and associated social area to be removed in 30 days — as “disproportionate”.
But residents have urged the appeal to be dismissed and described the noise from the courts as “relentless” and “intrusive”.
The David Lloyd health club in Harrogate.
Pat Fitzgerald, chairman of Oak Beck Valley Residents Association, told a Harrogate Town Council planning committee last night (December 17) that padel was still played at the courts until November 1.
David Lloyd said it was already in “positive, proactive dialogue” with planning officers about the padel courts and that removing them would come at significant expense.
But Mr Fitzgerald said there was “no way noise can be abated” with the courts being outside as they sit in a valley too close to residents’ houses.
He said:
It is a particularly intrusive noise and it is relentless from 8am right the way through until 9pm. It is a dreadful situation for the residents.
Mr Fitzgerald added:
We think the courts need to go into a solid building, which could either be in the existing building or a new building on site.
Mr Fitzgerald said the residents' association, which represents Oakdale Glen, Norwood Grove and the surrounding area, was not against padel tennis as a sport, but this was the “wrong place” for a court.
He said:
Can I just say that we have nothing against padel. It is a great sport and game. I enjoy it. But there is a right place and a wrong place to put a court. This is definitely the wrong place.
Cllr Monika Slater, who sits on the town council’s planning committee, said there was nothing in the company’s appeal which would mitigate against the noise.
She added:
I don’t see anything in their appeal that is really going to mitigate the damage that the padel courts are doing with regards to the amenity of residents’ properties.
In my opinion, we [the town council] should stand by the council’s enforcement decision.
Town councillors supported North Yorkshire Council’s enforcement action and objected to the appeal submitted by David Lloyd.
A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.
0