Padel bid bats away opposition to hotel site
Tennis authority’s protest rejected
PERMISSION has been given to create four padel courts in place of unused tennis facilities despite an objection from the latter sport’s governing body.
The plans for facilities at Mottram Hall Hotel on Wilmslow Road have come from company the Padel Group and have been approved by Cheshire East Council.
An application said the one tennis court that would be built over had been used infrequently by guests and ceased to be used at all five years ago.
Padel, a relatively new sport from Mexico, is similar to tennis, using bats rather than rackets and has walls enclosing the playing area.
But the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) expressed their unhappiness with the proposal via Sport England.
A letter said: “The LTA opposes the loss of tennis on the site.
“The development of padel facilities should not be to the detriment of tennis provision.
“For confirmation, padel is not a ‘form of tennis’ but a different sport.
“This project therefore removes tennis from site for an alternative sport.
“Any shortfall in tennis facility utilisation at the site, in the opinion of the
LTA, is insufficient argument for the loss of facilities.”
A council report said that although the development would be in the green belt it would not have a detrimental impact and was acceptable because it provided outdoor sport.
It also responded to the LTA concerns by saying: “Current planning policies do not protect one ‘type of sport’ over another, they only ensure that the facilities remain, to undertake ‘a sport’.
“It is understood that there is no demand for a tennis court at the hotel by guests or visitors and that is the reason why padel is now being pursued.“
The courts will also have a customer kiosk and 23 parking spaces.
Cheshire East is seen as a potential hotbed for padel with eight courts running at more than 90 per cent use compared to the national average of 65.
It is estimated the courts would cost £400,000 to set up and they would also be open to use by the public and schools.
A report by consultants Grimster Planning, submitted with the application, said: “The tennis court was used infrequently by hotel guests and visitors before it ceased being used over five years ago.”
Opening hours would be 6.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Planning policies do not protect one ‘type of sport’ over another.”