Bath, renowned for its Georgian architecture and World Heritage status, has been locked in a surprisingly noisy dispute over the increasingly popular sport of padel—a game invented in Mexico in 1969 combining elements of tennis and squash.
Despite its rising popularity across the UK, Bath had no padel courts for years, largely due to local council opposition citing noise complaints. Neighbours living near proposed courts described padel’s sound as “gunfire-like” and “Chinese water torture,” causing the Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee to reject multiple applications for padel court constructions.
The council itself had attempted to add padel courts at Odd Down Sports Ground but was forced to withdraw after the planning committee—operating independently—refused permission. Subsequent proposals at Lansdown Tennis Club also failed, with councillors expressing that the sport’s “noisier volleys and faster cadence” surpassed acceptable levels, potentially disturbing residents located just meters away.
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An appeal to the planning inspectorate upheld the council’s stance, reinforcing concerns over noise sensitivity and casting doubt on the viability of future padel developments in Bath. This ongoing saga even earned Bath the unflattering title of “the city waging war against padel” from the Daily Mail.
However, the tide has begun to turn. Plans to erect five courts on the outskirts of the city sparked both worry and support among local residents, highlighting a demand that’s difficult to ignore. Nearly 300 comments on the proposal demonstrated a divide but also underlined Bath’s urgent need for accessible padel facilities, as many enthusiasts currently commute to Bristol to play.
The breakthrough came with a recent planning decision approving a major University of Bath development comprising eight blocks of student housing. This project involves building over existing sports pitches and tennis courts, but to offset the loss, the plans incorporate two new padel courts. This approval slipped through with little fanfare, overshadowed by debates over architectural design and wildlife rather than the padel courts’ noise potential.
While it remains unclear whether the university’s new padel courts will be open to the public, they will surely benefit the University of Bath’s Padel Society, which frequently travels to Bristol’s courts. A university spokesperson emphasized the significance of this development, noting it as a strategic investment aimed at improving student accommodation and sports facilities alike while mitigating strain on local housing.
The University’s ‘Sports Training Village’ is already a world-class athletic complex featuring tennis courts, an Olympic-standard swimming pool, gyms, and even Team GB’s exclusive bobsleigh training track. Now, Bath locals can finally look forward to a city where padel courts exist alongside elite sporting amenities—ending the protracted “war” over a game once deemed too noisy to play.