Pickleball’s growing popularity prompted worried neighbours of a sports complex to object to plans for a new multi-use games area (MUGA).
A temporary padel court has already been moved from the long-established games area after neighbours complained, with one saying that it was “like being under constant gunfire”.
Brighton and Hove City Council, which owns the site, at the Withdean Sports Complex, even served a noise abatement order on its contractor Freedom Leisure.
Now, the council’s Planning Committee has voted unanimously in favour of granting planning permission for a multi-use games area in the same place, with pickleball among the potential sports there.
The plans include resurfacing the court, putting up new floodlights and replacing the existing 9ft (2.7m) high link fence with a 10ft high “duo 8” mesh fence.
There will also be a storage container and markings for netball, basketball and tennis as well as the increasingly popular pickleball in an area that is already used for outdoor sports.
Neighbours were divided over the plans, with 15 objecting and 16 in support.
One resident, Simon Farncombe, said that the area was hardly used until it previously became a padel court.
He said that neighbours had endured 29 months of noise nuisance and that lessons must be learnt.
Mr Farncombe said: “The visual impact of this development, including the shipping container, will allow and promote intensive use of the MUGA – a significant increase and more noise than previously.
“We had one padel court and there’s now provisionally four pickle courts. It’s essential that consideration is given to managing the noise impact from day one.”
Sports facilities manager Kerry Taylor said that the council planned to improve leisure facilities across Brighton and Hove.
She said: “This multi-use games area or MUGA at Withdean Sports Complex is an existing fenced sports court that is in dire need of improvement.
“As a council asset, improvements are needed to the facility so it is safe and suitable to use as well as ensuring it provides accessible sporting opportunities for the residents of Brighton and Hove.”
She told the committee that the site would not just be used for pickleball because there was also demand for netball and tennis.
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said: “This is an improvement to have a variety of sports and something new like pickleball.”
She said that, given the existing use as a multi-purpose sports court, it would be hard legally to justify a vote against the plans.
Green councillor Raphael Hill said: “It’s important to recognise that pickleball tends to be a loud sport. We should be cognisant of the impact of that sport but I will be voting in favour.”
Labour councillor Joy Robinson said: “I do understand the residents’ concerns, particularly given the experience they went through when it was a padel court.
“Surely, Freedom Leisure and our sports team have learnt some lessons from that and will do as much as they can to limit the noise from pickleball and work closely with the residents.”
The planning application was approved yesterday (Wednesday 5 February) in a meeting at Hove Town Hall.
The Planning Committee formally asked for a noise impact assessment in the event of complaints about noise.
Pickleball…constant gunfire…what…
These are people who bought houses opposite a leisure centre and are now complaining about people playing sport.. madness.
An well-worn and overly simplistic take on the situation. In recent years the site has developed itself a fair bit, with more to come.
I’ve never heard of pickleball which is another reason why it’s unimportant and must not be allowed to cause disturbance and distress to people. Noise pollution is one of the biggest problems afflicting us today. It can have a terrible effect on people’s health.
I would adopt a zero tolerance approach to it and shut this place down.
There’s no excuse for noisy activities to be taking place outside, whether it’s pickleball or music events. We have indoor concert halls, theatres and leisure centres for this precise purpose.
Personal incredulity and ignorance is an extremely weak argument.
YOU’VE never heard of it, and that’s a good enough reason for nobody to play it? How self-centered you are.
The benefits of exercising and spending time outdoors generally have been scientifically proven time and time again. If you wish to spend your time under cover, then please feel free to do so. Stop trying to control the lives of others.
Dear Ron, it’s a pity we can’t do the same thing with your constant drivel & waffle.
If the council could see its way to sorting out the lighting on the tennis courts in Preston Park, that would help an awful lot of people. Lights are too high and it’s like watching Close Encounters. People literally have high intensity floodlights lighting up their property every evening. The fact that the courts are illuminated even when unused seems to have escaped the B&HBC’s attention.
In respect of the residents of Withdean – the council really should work to reduce noise and disturbance to a minimum. People don’t necessarily understand how something they may regard as innocuous and simply people whinging, can be pretty intrusive and really impact peoples quality of life. Sadly, B&HCC seem to relish ignoring residents concerns – witness holding public consultations about Pride in the Parks which clearly demonstrated people had real issues with noise and restrictions to their own homes during Pride, only for them to ignore all the complaints and allow Pride to extend the event to two weekends. Money talks………
The lighting seems like a fine thing to ask to resolve. Even by adapting the windows themselves with film membranes, or providing blackout curtains for residents could go a long way to providing an amicable solution. And even simpler, switching them off when unused is perfectly reasonable!
Regarding Pride, I think this is a perfect example of why adversial individuals falling claiming to be representative of an area, despite resisting all offers to officially form, start proclaiming disingenuous claims of human rights and illegality, even whilst a simple basic search destroys the assertion.
You make a good point Tony, the individual experience is certainly different to what others may see looking in, and a careful, articulated, and solution-based approach from residents may be the key thing to achieve the positive outcomes hoped for.
Except that Pride isn’t being extended to two weekends. As the council have listened to residents concerns.
Aren’t the Preston Park courts there operated by a community group rather than the council?
Perhaps start by contacting them and also the local councillors.
Don’t understand the logic. The previous recent use resulted in a noise abatement notice, and the court was dismantled. Now there is an application for a supposedly noiser and busier activity. I’m a member of the gym, and a neighbour. There seems to be a lot of money for capital spend, but none for oning maintenance. The building in general is falling into disrepair, the sauna is now closed. I got the impression that the owners were in financial difficulty.
Sadly, human activity continues to disrupt the natural world. This council appears to pay greater regard to leisure activity at the expense of the natural inhabitants and residential amenity. Residents must turn to the 1990 Environment Act to seek recourse from such applications.
I dont understand how “sport noise” is annoying but Grand Parade is full of junkies that shout all day and night long and it’s just so unpleasant in a city centre and that’s ok.
Maybe neighbours should join in? Sport is good for you and outdoor facilities are important. It boost your serotonin and makes you less naggy, maybe there is something to try .You should be happy that people are choosing healthy lifestyle. It’s not like it’s going on all night long does it?
It does give an impression of NIMBYism.