North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for two new padel tennis courts at Cayton Playing Fields, with strict conditions to halt play and prevent noise or light disturbances during nearby cemetery burials.
The construction of a pair of padel courts has been approved despite concerns about disturbing visitors to a nearby cemetery.
Plans for two end-to-end outdoor ‘autonomously operated’ padel tennis courts at Cayton Playing Fields in Cayton, Scarborough, have been given the green light by North Yorkshire Council.
The scheme was approved despite concerns that visitors to a nearby cemetery could be disturbed by noise and lighting from the sports facility, including during burials.
Officers said:
“It is accepted that generally there is an expectation that visitors to the cemetery are not subjected to excessive noise or disturbance from neighbouring sources, especially during burials.”
Following discussions with the parish council and the applicant, a planning condition was agreed whereby the padel facilities cannot be used during or one hour before or after a burial is set to take place.
Players will be able to book their sessions via an online app, and this “autonomous operation would allow access to the courts between proposed operating hours from 8am to 9pm on weekdays, and 9am to 9pm at the weekend.
According to plans, the facilities will be monitored by CCTV and general maintenance will be undertaken by the wider playing fields staff, with the glass cleaned every one to two weeks and the artificial turf will be be refreshed every week.
Letters were sent in support of the application by the chairman of the Cayton Playing Fields Association and a representative of Cayton Corinthian Junior Football Club.
The letters said that the padel courts would bring “a much-needed revenue to the playing fields association, while refusal would threaten the financial viability of the existing uses”.
The letters added:
“The proposed facility will bring benefits to the residents of the local area and will have a wide appeal for people of all ages and abilities. This will increase the sporting opportunities in this part of Scarborough, which are currently limited.”
One objection was also submitted by a member of the public who raised concerns about “considerable noise already on site with vehicles and visitors to the pub along the access road, including noise when patrons are leaving”.
The resident added that “there is already light pollution through a high light that shines into neighbouring properties, the proposed use will result in more users of the facility on site, which would accentuate this problem”.
According to plans, the courts would include energy-efficient LED floodlights, mounted on columns up to 6m high, with four lights per court.
However, the floodlights would be used when it is dark and “only when courts are booked and paid for through the booking app”.
The development by Tin Man Financial Services has been designed in accordance with Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) guidance on padel court design, layout, and lighting standards, in order to ensure high-quality and safe facilities that are suitable for both casual and competitive use.
The application was approved by North Yorkshire Council, subject to conditions.
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