PLANS to build two padel courts in Glasgow are recommended for approval despite community concerns over “gunshot-like” noise.
Gancho Padel Ltd wants to create three padel courts at Titwood Bowling Club in Pollokshields while Hillhead Sports Club is looking to install two courts.
Glasgow City Council planners have said the projects can go ahead, as mitigation measures will address noise concerns. But there are almost 80 objections to the Pollokshields proposal and 11 have been made against the Hillhead plan.
Padel is a racket sport, similar to tennis, played on an enclosed court. Balls can be hit off the court walls like in squash. Residents living near the two sites believe they will be disrupted by “repetitive” noise.
There are also concerns about the installation of floodlights and the visual impact of the padel enclosures. The city’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday, August 4 to consider the two applications.
At Glencairn Drive, the courts would be part of the Titwood Bowling Club complex, which neighbours Titwood Lawn Tennis Club, and is within the West Pollokshields Conservation Area.
They would be erected on “disused” blaes tennis courts. A single-storey reception and changing room is also planned.
Acoustic glazed screening is proposed to reduce the noise from the padel enclosures, which would rise to a height of around four metres. The height has been lowered since an initial application was withdrawn.
A report to councillors states: “The proposal would not adversely affect the continued operation of the wider club and would instead bring an underutilised area back into active recreational use.
“Furthermore, the introduction of padel courts would represent a qualitative improvement to the sporting offer, supporting the ongoing viability and attractiveness of the bowling club.”
However, there have been 79 objections and just 12 letters of support. One objector said the development would be “an unsightly, noisy and unwelcome addition to the area in which I live”.
Another added the courts would “create a large amount of noise and disruption to the historical tennis club environment”.
Councillor Jon Molyneux, Greens, who represents Pollokshields, has objected as he believes the plan is “inappropriate for the setting”.
“I am also concerned that the changes will result in increased noise impact,” he added. “The nature of noise with padel is sharp and repetitive and will have adverse amenity impacts as a result.”
Planners say an acoustic assessment, from a “suitably qualified consultant”, concludes that, with proposed mitigation measures, noise levels “would not give rise to significant adverse impacts”.
They add floodlights would only be used during operating hours, between 8am and 10pm, and conditions could be attached to the planning permission requiring final details of design, luminance levels and column heights to “ensure that light spill, glare and sky glow are appropriately controlled”.
The report also states the “relatively low scale and visually permeable design ensures that key characteristics of the conservation area, including openness, landscaping and the primacy of the historic pavilions [bowling and tennis], are maintained”.
Hillhead Sports Club, on Hughenden Road, is the home ground of Hillhead Jordanhill rugby club and also includes cricket and tennis facilities. The padel courts would be covered by a canopy and floodlit to support evening and winter play.
One objector said: “Everyone would be affected by the gunshot-like sounds of padel being played.
“Even if permission for the construction of the courts is granted and goes ahead, I can only imagine a miserable period of complaints to follow.”
Another resident added: “The relentless and monotonous noise is impossible to ignore and would impact me significantly.”
But planners say an acoustic assessment finds that “noise levels would not give rise to significant adverse impacts on surrounding properties”.
They add lighting would only be needed between 8am and 9pm. The report to councillors states the existing facilities “generate regular background noise associated with both sporting activity and spectator attendance”. “This establishes a high ambient noise environment.”
