Six-court padel club plan near Alcester hits objections over road safety and noise
Highways officers, environmental health and the town council have all raised concerns about Golden Point Padel's Beauchamp Paddock scheme, but most public comments back it.
Plans for a six-court padel club on the northern edge of Alcester, in Warwickshire, are getting a mixed reception. The Redditch Standard reports that the scheme has support from would-be players, but has also drawn objections from highways officers, environmental health officers and Alcester Town Council.
What's proposed
Golden Point Padel Ltd has applied to Stratford-on-Avon District Council to build the club on land at Beauchamp Paddock, Alcester Heath, near the roundabout on the town's northern outskirts. The plans include:
- six outdoor doubles courts with floodlights
- a clubhouse with a bar, a shop and changing rooms
- 31 parking spaces, including six with electric vehicle chargers, two disabled bays and six cycle spaces
Road safety is the first hurdle
Warwickshire County Council's highways team formally objected on 28 September over pedestrian safety and the proposed access. The nearby road has no pavements or street lights, and the nearest bus stops, by the Roebuck Inn, are about 230 metres away with no continuous footway. Highways officers want more speed survey evidence, a road safety audit and changes to the visibility at the access. They were satisfied with the expected amount of traffic and the parking provision.
And then there's the noise
Environmental health officers objected on 13 October and asked for more information about noise and lighting. The applicant's noise assessment modelled all six courts in use at once and concluded the scheme would be acceptable, partly because road traffic would mask the sound of play.
Officers weren't convinced. They pointed to the distinctive sound of the ball hitting rackets and glass, and of players shouting. They also noted that background noise had been measured closer to the roundabout than to the nearest homes. They want details of floodlight glare at neighbouring windows and of the proposed opening hours. Alcester Town Council lodged its own objection on 24 September.
The public leans towards yes
By 23 October, 19 public comments had been logged: ten in support, seven against, one neutral and one with no clear position. Supporters point to the shortage of local courts and the health benefits. Objectors cite noise, floodlighting, the entrance near a busy roundabout and the lack of a safe walking route. Sport England hasn't given a formal view, because the scheme falls outside its statutory remit, but it has pointed the council to its design guidance.
What happens next
The formal consultation closed on 20 October. The council's original target date for a decision, 16 October, has passed with no decision recorded. The application, reference 26/02095/FUL, is still being considered, and comments can still be submitted until it is decided.
Noise rows are nothing new for padel planning applications. In Alcester, though, the trickier question may be how players get there safely. In the meantime, our guide to where to play padel in the UK explains how to find a court nearby. If you're wondering why the sport makes so much noise, see our explainer, what is padel?
