Blackheath
A group created to manage objections to the proposed Padel Tennis construction complex on the Cator Estate.
Blackheath
A group created to manage objections to the proposed Padel Tennis construction complex on the Cator Estate.
A planning application is in place to build a Padel Tennis Court Complex on the field at the corner of Morden Road and Blackheath Park.
THIS WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE AREA IN MULTIPLE WAYS:
Increased noise (well above and beyond the original plans/usage of tennis court or bowls) Padel courts are well known for their very loud and intrusive noise. The Padel Magazine recommends that clubs in quiet areas should be located no less than 100m to local residents.
The Dutch tennis and padel association recommend that new padel courts be built no closer than 100 metres from residential buildings and should preferably be 160 metres away. The UK internet sites state that the sound generated can be 91dB, and not what has been put forward by the applicant's acoustic survey.
Light pollution: The entire complex will be floodlight, and the entire structure, including tents, is a full 10 meters high. Each court is 200 sq m and the clubhouse 450 sq m. A similar facility is located on Isle of Dogs, near Canary Wharf. Go and visit or see photos on https://padium.com. Compare the size of the steel and canvas tent-structures with the skyscrapers around them. Do not be misled by the drawings submitted with the application – they show faintly drawn structures. They will be huge in our residential area.
Significant change in the character of the area: Currently there are no such commercial properties on the Cator Estate, or indeed any.
Increased traffic: The application is for eight courts, open 17 hours a day from 6 am to 11 pm. The upkeep of the roads is a cost paid for by residents.
You can see the application here:
https://planning.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/online-applications/
Number: 25/0793/F
Description: Creation of a padel tennis facility with the erection of a new clubhouse; associated works including parking and landscaping. | FORMER TENNIS CLUB, BLACKHEATH PARK, BLACKHEATH, SE3 0HB
Please register your view as soon as possible, the neighbour consultation expiry date is the 7th of May.
Additionally, there are two other outstanding applications.
THESE ARE NOT BY THE SAME COMPANY AS THE CURRENT PADEL APPLICATION
Although both of these have technically expired, they are still both accepting comments.
The two plans are linked. One can't happen without the other.
This is the application for the current site of the Bowls club. It is to replace it with four 3-storey town houses.
This is for a new club house and bowls club on the site proposed for the Padel courts. It will retain the status of Metropolitan Open Land. There will be considerably less traffic and the plans include realistic numbers of parking spaces.
April 22nd
Funding request sent to residents who have shown an interest in supporting the objection. See below in 'Useful Files'.
April 22nd
RBG website reports 150 Objections and 5 Supporting, over 96% are against the proposal so far.
April 20th
Bank account created and funding process starts.
April 19th
First in-person meeting of concerned residents, hosted by Adrian Challinor
April 19th
Engagement with accoustic consultant.
April 19th
Pledged Funding reaches £8,500
April 18th
BCER Board email residents to announce they are taking specialist planning advice on the best course of action.
April 18th
RBG website reports 87 objections and 3 supporting.
April 18th
Website launched
April 17th
Pledged Funding reaches £5,500
April 14th
Martin Carr releases a short video showing how the planned application will impact the area. This is quickly shared over 400 times.
April 13th
Pledged Funding £2,250
April 12th
Royal Bourough of Greenwich website reaches 30 objections
April 10th
Martin Carr goes door to door informing neighbours of the plan to build a Padel Tennis complex at the end of Morden Road and Blackheath Park.
April 9th
Adrian Challinor spots the planning application and engages neightbours.
Objections to the current plan are running at a far higher rate than previous proposals.
https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200190/planning_and_building_control
How to Comment on a planning aplication:
Councillors for Blackheath Westcombe:
https://committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx?XXR=0&AC=WARD&WID=13179