Outrage as plans to construct three padel courts in picturesque Hampshire village are accepted
Controversial plans to build padel courts have been approved despite the objections of villagers fear who feared the noise would give them ‘diabetes‘.
Homeowners have been left furious after the proposals to build three padel courts in the village of Grateley, in the Hampshire countryside, were given the green light.
Villagers in the picturesque area had objected to the bid for planning permission by arguing that the noise would cause health issues.
Loud and ‘intolerable’ noise from the courts could lead to them developing ‘type 2 diabetes’, it was claimed.
Now, permission has been granted by Test Valley Borough Council to build three courts at Grateley business park.
The decision has led ‘terrified’ homeowners to threaten to move out of their village.
Allen Planning made the application to build three padel courts on behalf of Pik Leisure earlier this year at a site that was formerly a business park.
A local to the area who wished to be kept anonymous said in response to the application’s approval: ‘I’m terrified, my wife’s terrified.
‘Neighbours are very concerned, particularly those who were here when we had the previous problems that caused issues with people’s health.’
The Grateley resident said that there had been previous noise issues on the industrial estate where a company used pneumatic nail guns.
As a result, the mental health of one local was affected so badly that they ended up ‘very seriously ill’ and spent months in hospital, they said.
Homeowners have been left furious after the proposals to build three padel courts in an old business park in Grateley, Hampshire, were given the green light.
Resident John Underhill lives opposite the proposed padel court site and said it would be ‘damaging’ to his and his neighbour’s mental health if the project was given the go-ahead
Villagers said the unit at Grateley Business Park (above) had until now been used by an agricultural business
They continued: ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do, because I can’t afford to move, I’ve spent 30 years trying to build my home, plant my garden, I built my kitchen.
‘This is my home and so we are going to have this upset first thing in the morning to last thing at night, 365 days of the year.’
The planning proposal stated that the hours of operation would be from 7am-10pm Monday to Friday, 8am-10pm Saturday and 8am-9pm on Sunday.
In a notice approving the plans, a representative of the Test Valley Borough Council wrote: ‘No ventilation or vents shall be installed into the building and the acoustic cloth as submitted shall be installed within the building and used at all times of operation.’
The approval notice added: ‘In reaching this decision Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has had regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and takes a positive and proactive approach to development proposals focused on solutions’.
Objecting to the plans, Steve Murphy and Tara Cragoe-Murphy said the village of Grateley has ‘a rural character which must be preserved’.
They said the noise generated by the sport has been ‘likened to gun shots being fired’ and the noise pollution will be ‘intolerable as it is the echo of the ball against the rackets, the acrylic walls and the floor’.
They added: ‘The noise pollution generated from the padel courts will have damaging effects on our health.
‘These can include stress, cardiovascular problems, mental health affecting cognitive function and mental wellbeing.
‘There is also a link between noise exposure and an increase of metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.
‘It will reduce the quality of life and social interactions which can lead to depression.’
John Underhill, 77, who lives opposite where the padel courts are proposed to be built, said it would be ‘damaging’ to his and his neighbor’s mental health.
He said in his objection: ‘It will impact us massively. It is going to be a big problem for this whole side of the village. It is ridiculous.
‘I have lived here for 40 years, and when I came here 40 years ago it was an agricultural business and they said they would never change the opening hours and now they want it to be open all the time.
‘I don’t know anything about padel but I know that in a lot of areas around the country, there have been a lot of objections to it in residential areas.
‘It is a totally unsuitable building to use. It is just corrugated tin.’
The sport has rocketed in popularity and can be played with mixed ages and abilities on court
Objecting to the plans, Steve Murphy and Tara Cragoe-Murphy said the village of Grateley has ‘a rural character which must be preserved’
The residents living in the surrounding area of the padel courts signed a petition, which gained more than 50 signatures.
They hoped to highlight the noise issue it would create and the long opening hours through the petition to put forward to the Test Valley Council.
Another objector, Rob Hudson, wrote: ‘I cannot understand how the new and popular ‘Inner City’ based sport is being considered to be suitably located in a residential area.
‘The very nature of the sport means that the hard ball used, against the surrounding surfaces, which form the court itself, creates immense noise.
‘The close proximity of residential houses, will mean the occupants will undoubtedly have to endure the continual noise of this sport.
‘Sitting out in, and enjoying the garden will be a thing of the past.’
The plans include new entrance doors to the ground floor, showers, changing rooms, a café and a lounge area in addition to the courts.
Lewis Halfcare wrote: ‘This a quiet village and has no need for a Padel Court, the extra traffic and unsociable hours strike a big concern.
‘We have a small holding and the noise would be a big problem for our animals.’
Danny Atfield said: ‘I object to this application due to the Noise the site will generate 365 days of the year.
‘This sport has serious noise issues due the the materials used in the construction and the playing of the game, Its will sound like we are at war.’
Recommending approval of the plans, a planning officer said: ‘Conversion of the building on the site would provide a continued occupancy and use of a building within the business park, while providing an alternative use to attract visitors to the rural community.
‘The visitors and proposed staffing would be of benefit to the local economy.
‘The planning balance is considered to weigh in favour of the proposed development, which would be acceptable subject to the provision of conditions relating to noise control, limiting the use of the unit to padel (or similar) and a control of hours of operation.’
Documents submitted on behalf of Pik Leisure to the council set out its response to concerns about noise: ‘The residents of these properties already have the background noise created by road traffic from the Cholderton Road and also there is of course the existing buildings on this employment site.
‘In overview therefore it is submitted that these proposals would result in no adverse impacts upon the residential amenities of neighbouring properties .’
