Noise concerns raised over padel court plans

Rosie Budd, Dr Stella Bolaki and Prof Stephen Banfield have all voiced concerns about the proposal

Concerns have been raised over plans to build three padel courts and a canopy at a sports centre in Kent.

Some residents near The King's School Sports Centre in St Stephens Road, Canterbury, say the development will block views and sunlight for some properties and create noise pollution.

Academic Dr Stella Bolaki, from The Spires Action Group which opposes the scheme, said the key issue was the "proximity to our properties", adding: I'm really concerned about noise, light pollution, and the way it's going to overshadow the area and deprive us of light and sunlight."

A spokesperson for the King's School, which runs the facility, says the plans have been "adapted" in light of feedback received.

Planning documents detail the findings of an acoustic impact assessment carried out as part of the application.

The assessment concluded that, during a worst-case single-hour period with all three courts being used by four players, the increase in noise would be "moderate" and cause a "significant" impact.

'Sustained rifle shots'

The plan is for The King's School Sports Centre in Canterbury

However, an acoustic barrier at least 2.8m (9.2ft) high is proposed, which the assessment document said would make the noise increase "negligible" and the impact "insignificant".

Rosie Budd, a retired teacher whose home is closest to the prospective site, said: "The noise is apparently like sustained rifle shots all the time, comparable to the sound of very heavy traffic."

The 79-year-old, who bought her home when she was widowed and "feeling quite vulnerable", said she never anticipated that such a facility could be built just 4m (13.1ft) away.

"I carefully chose a situation where more housing wouldn't be built that this sort of thing could happen," she said.

The school spokesperson added: "The proposed padel courts at the school's sports centre will be open to the public as well as pupils, and will support good health, fitness and wellbeing for the whole community.

"While padel is no louder than tennis or netball, both of which are already played at the sports centre, the padel courts will have high-quality sound mitigation in place to mitigate any noise, including an acoustic wall nearest the houses. The courts are also designed to ensure no light can escape from the internal lighting."