A tennis-type sport – said to be taking the world by storm – could be making its way to an Ayrshire town.
Prestwick Tennis & Fitness Centre has unveiled plans for two new Padel courts at its base in Whinfield Place, Prestwick.
The centre is seeking permission from South Ayrshire Council to install two padel tennis courts along with a roof canopy; complete a “reconfiguration” of its existing tennis courts and install floodlights.
The plans have been lodged on the council’s online planning portal and are “pending consideration”.
At this stage, it is not clear how much the scheme would cost to build.
Padel is a raquet sport and typically played in doubles on an enclosed court, roughly 25 per cent smaller than the size of a tennis court.
Scoring is the same as normal tennis and the balls used are similar – but with a little less pressure.
According to its design and access statement, the centre is seeking permission to build two padel tennis courts within the grounds of the existing sports facility and the proposal seeks to locate the new courts on an area “currently used” for outdoor tennis.
The adjacent area would also be “resurfaced” to form “two reconfigured floodlit tennis courts” with an artificial clay surface.
The application says the aim is to enable the club to “support the development” of an “additional new racquet sport” and “increase the overall leisure opportunities” on offer for locals.
According to the proposals, the development would be “appropriately positioned” on existing outdoor courts.
The design and access statement goes on: “Padel is commonly described as the fastest growing sport in the world and increasingly being called the fastest growing sport in the UK.
“Padel is a discipline of tennis and was recently recognised by sportscotland.
“The sport is governed by the LTA and is developing rapidly and growing in popularity across the UK.
“Padel is easy to learn and popular with women and men and played by people of all ages and abilities. It contributes to a healthy lifestyle and is very sociable being played as doubles.
“The padel courts will be available to members and non-members.”
The surface of the padel courts would be covered in blue artificial grass. If given the go ahead, the centre claims local schools will be offered “regular opportunities” for children to come and try this new sport.
The design statement adds: “This will be the first such facility in the Prestwick area and will offer all year access to a fun and healthy activity and provide a positive impact on the area.”
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