Residents have blasted plans to build three new padel courts, claiming living next to just one is ‘unbearable’.
They say the sound of people playing the trendy sport at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club in Sutton Coldfield is similar to gunshots and has no place in a suburban setting.
The residents also claim players, who can use the court between 9am and 9pm, are constantly shouting and swearing, making the situation even worse.
With the existing court usually fully booked, the club has submitted plans to build another three, which would be floodlit.
Locals say the extra courts will make living in the area an absolute nightmare, affecting both regular residents but also those living in nearby care homes.
They could also bring down house prices, they add.
Media consultant Jason Kerrigan, 52, who lives just metres away from the private members club, which was founded in 1922, said: ‘They stuck the first court next to a couple of OAPS – just metres from their gardens and homes’ and added that the new courts will be 17 metres from his property.
He acknowledged padel tennis was a fun sport to play but not to listen to, saying: ‘Everyone talks about them sounding like gunshots. When those rackets bash against the plexiglass it’s an incredible noise.’
‘They start at 9am in the morning, they finish at 9pm at night. There will be 16 people hitting the ball at the same time on all the different courts.
‘There will be more shots fired than at the O.K. Corral.’
Jason said the constant shouting and swearing made it even worse.
He added: ‘The court shouldn’t be there. We’re not complaining about one random party one evening, it’s like a party all day, everyday, forever.’
Great-grandmother-of-four Brenda Catterall, or also lives next to the club, said: ‘It’s like gunshots, bang bang constantly. Then the lights, if they put more lights up it’ll be horrific. They’re bright now and the lights can shine into all of our bungalows.’
Padel tennis started in Mexico in the late 1960s and is a hybrid between squash and tennis, that is best suited to four players.
The court has four rebound walls made of glass and wired mesh or another hard surface.
It’s said to be one of the fastest growing racket sports in the world.
Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club secretary Peter Whatson said the plans were an exciting development for the club and would bring great benefits to the wider community.
He said the extra courts were needed to offset the ’22 per cent decline in squash and tennis membership over the last ten years’.
‘You will appreciate that as a sports club we have to work hard and continually look forward to ensure our future viability and it is vital that we remain relevant.
‘We currently have one uncovered padel court which was installed seven years ago in 2017 with members and the wider public often unable to get a slot.’
Peter said the club, which recently celebrated its centenary, has made ‘many improvements to the facilities including additional courts, indoor courts and the clubhouse.
‘All the courts are now floodlit with many of these lights dating back 40 years – somewhat longer than most of our neighbours have lived here,’ he said.
A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association said: ‘Whilst we are unable to comment on specific planning applications, padel is a rapidly growing sport that offers people the opportunity to get active in a social setting.
‘We would always encourage venues to work an acoustic consultant to locate and design courts that mitigate noise for neighbouring properties.
‘As part of this process the LTA recommends engaging the local community throughout the development/planning process to enable the construction of courts that benefit the local community.’
Birmingham City Council will consider the proposals in the coming weeks.
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