More Padel Courts Planned at Rocks Lane Centre
Operator wants to increase provision of short form tennis game
The existing padel courts on Chiswick Back Common
The operator of the Rocks Lane Multisport Centre on Chiswick Back Common has submitted an application to increase the number of padel tennis courts at the facility.
It plans to convert one of the multi-use courts into three new areas at the eastern end of the site for playing this short form of tennis.
If approved the application would require the removal of two mature holly trees and some shrubs by the courts. These would be replaced by new plantings.
The applicant, TFC Leisure Ltd, states in their submission to Hounslow Council that padel tennis is becoming very popular in the UK as it is a typically faster moving game than regular tennis. It is played with a stringless bat (paddle) and slightly softer tennis ball using the walls of the court a little like squash.
The barriers to entry in terms of physical ability are said to be lower and therefore this form of tennis attracts a wider range of the population to play the sport.
The sport is being promoted by the Lawn Tennis Association as a way to increase participation in racket sports across the whole spectrum of ages and abilities.
The design of the courts from documents submitted to planning department
The court measures 10 metres by 20 metres and has a net at the centre as with a normal tennis court. The game is usually played as doubles.
There are 3 existing padel tennis courts at the centre which opened at the beginning of October last year providing casual play, coaching and competition. The operator says these immediately became very popular with 759 players using the courts in the week commencing 26 October only three weeks after they opened.
The application states that opportunities for the traditional form of tennis will not be reduced as tennis court lines will be marked out on sports courts 4 and 11 which are currently mainly used for football. It is envisaged that this will enable the centre to use the sports courts more efficiently throughout the year i.e. predominantly for tennis in the summer and for football in the winter.
The Rocks Lane centre covers 9700 square metres and consist of multiple sports pitches and a sports pavilion building housing reception, changing facilities, café and soft play area.
The planning reference for the application is P/2020/4172. No indication has been given as yet when a decision on the application is due.
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January 16, 2021