PLANS to replace two tennis courts to bring the emerging sport of padel to Bournemouth’s Central Gardens have been rejected.

West Hants Tennis Club has seen its latest plans refused due to the impact the proposal would have on the town centre gardens.

The location and design of the plans was described as “insensitive and harmful”.

Permission was being sought to introduce padel, which is a cross between tennis and squash, at Bournemouth Gardens Community Tennis Club.

The proposal would have swapped the two most southerly tennis courts with padel courts, with new screens, fencing and floodlights installed.

A BCP Council planning officer rejected the application under delegated powers.

A report by the officer said: “Whilst the virtues of providing opportunity for a new and fast-growing sport, encouraging younger participants, the impact on the setting of the gardens is paramount and in this instance the proposed design is not supported.

“The proposal would result in ‘less than substantial’ harm to the listed gardens, and therefore needs to be weighed against the benefits. In this case the land is already in recreational use and would not result in significant benefits other than a more varied offering.”

Bournemouth Echo:

The application attracted 11 objections from residents, with several stating that members of Bournemouth Gardens Community Tennis Club had not been notified over the proposed loss of the tennis courts.

Many concerns related to the noise generated from the padel courts but environmental health raised no objections to the findings of a noise impact assessment submitted by the applicant.

BCP Council’s heritage officer submitted an objection to the plan while the scheme was supported by the local authority’s sport and recreation development team.

A design and access statement submitted by West Hants said: “The current set up of eight tennis courts is struggling to remain viable, the introduction of two padel courts will greatly enhance the prospect of the courts continuing as a valuable asset to the conurbation.

“The introduction of a court at West Hants Tennis Club has proved to be a success. However, the noise generated by the facility has limited the scope for expansion at West Hants.”

Objectors contested the suggestion that the tennis courts were facing viability issues.

As reported, West Hants’ saw a bid to add three new padel courts to its site in Rosline Road South rejected by council planners last year due to "unacceptable noise impacts”.