A developer who says he wants to open padel courts in South Holland for the community has voiced his frustrations after they were refused permission.
James Kirk, of 77 Leisure, wants to build three courts alongside a new office space on what are currently barns on Holbeach Road, east of the A16 McDonald’s roundabout in Spalding.
He describes it as a ‘significant community-focused offer within the proposal’ and says he has approached local schools and community groups to offer free access and coaching sessions from it.
But after ignoring a request from Coun Rob Gibson that the matter be decided in public at a meeting of its planning committee, South Holland District Chairman’s Panel refused it behind closed doors.
Officers argued it was in open countryside and on land liable to flood.
Mr Kirk suggested the refusal was ‘based on a narrow interpretation of planning policies rather than practical realities’ and that hearing it at committee level ‘would have been an opportunity to properly weigh the social and community benefits’.
After getting into padel Mr Kirk says he enjoys playing it with his whole family.
“It’s fantastic for families and brings them together to play,” he said. “As a parent I’m constantly worried about getting the kids away from their screens and being active.
“This is not about the money; I want these courts to be an investment in the community.
“The main points of the objection are unjustified, and our supporting statement to SHDC addressed these successfully.
“I’ve spent 25 years submitting planning applications locally, but this has to be the most frustrating objection I’ve ever received.
“The site is classed as open countryside, yet it sits within 450 yards of a McDonald’s and is surrounded by other commercial businesses. On top of that, there are major overhead cable lines due to run through the foreground.
“There are also numerous developments outside the local plan that are regularly approved at committee, many of which are far more intrusive than our proposal.
“We believe this highlights an inconsistency in how policies are being applied.
“Our application received no objections from any other statutory consultees, and we were not given a clear explanation as to how these policies were applied in reaching the refusal.
“This effectively means the community in and around South Holland will miss out again,” he added. “We were offering real, practical benefits — free use and coaching for schools and clubs — to help get young people off devices and involved in one of the fastest-growing sports in Europe.
“Unfortunately, I may now have no choice but to take the development to another district.
“That would mean anyone locally wanting to take part will have to travel significant distances — and even then, access is limited due to demand.”
It’s the second such application that’s been refused with a plan for a Padel and Pickleball Centre on Bourne Road having been refused earlier this month.
Mr Kirk says he’s in contact with those behind that application and that there’s frustration with the refusal of applications relating to the fast growing racquet sport.
He continued that’s he’s seeking legal advice on the application.
A council spokesman said: “Should the applicant consider that this decision was incorrect or incorrectly applied Planning Policy, then they are entitled to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
