After a period of resistance, Bath and North East Somerset Council has granted planning permission for five new padel courts to be constructed at the former railway station site in Bathampton, on the outskirts of Bath. This marks a significant change from previous refusals, where councillors cited noise complaints describing the game’s sounds as resembling “gunfire.”
Padel, a fast-growing sport similar to squash but played with a solid racquet, originally hails from Mexico and has surged in popularity across the UK since the Covid-19 lockdowns. National attention was drawn to Bath due to the city’s repeated rejections of padel court proposals, making this development a welcome turn for local enthusiasts.
Ian Halsall, a planning committee member representing Oldfield Park for the Liberal Democrats, expressed support for the new courts, stating, “If you can’t have a padel tennis court here, you can’t have one anywhere. And given the level of support we have received, it clearly does demonstrate that there is demand for this sport.”
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The planning decision follows substantial community engagement, with over 180 public comments submitted urging approval. One padel player lamented that players currently have to travel as far as Bristol to access courts and emphasised the pressing need in Bath.
Smash Padel, the company behind the initiative, is led by Bath resident and CEO Rupert Taylor. He described Bathampton as an ideal location, remarking, “It’s a site with history and personality, and we’ve worked hard to design a club that respects its surroundings.” Taylor added that sensitivity to Bath’s heritage and green spaces was central to the planning process and expressed enthusiasm for welcoming players of all ages once the courts open.
Concerns had been raised by neighbours about potential noise and increased traffic on the private lane accessed via the canal bridge junction. However, council officers found the nearest dwelling is 170 metres away, mitigating direct noise impact, and welcomed the traffic management plan with no objections.
Earlier proposals faced rejection, including plans for courts at Lansdown Lawn Tennis Club, which was deemed too close to nearby homes, and at Odd Down Sports Ground, where noise concerns also resulted in refusal despite council backing.
While the Bathampton courts are not technically the first approved in the area-two courts were approved at the University of Bath’s student housing development in April-the accessibility of those to the wider public remains unclear. Additionally, another application for four courts at Walcot Rugby Club is under consideration.
Smash Padel’s Bath location will be the company’s seventh in the UK and its second in Somerset, complementing their existing venue in Taunton. The club plans to offer free introductory sessions, comprehensive coaching, and junior programmes to foster community engagement.