City tennis courts serve up plan for padel boom

A tennis club has submitted plans for new padel courts.

Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club wants to install three new playing areas at its site at Newbridge Crescent off Tettenhall Road.

Two existing grass tennis courts would be replaced with three new roofed courts, as part of plans submitted to City of Wolverhampton Council.

A statement supporting the application said padel was a social sport, which could "help generate more business in the local economy".

The burgeoning sport, described as a mix of squash and tennis, was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s.

The doubles matches are played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court and use the same scoring system, with solid, string-less racquets.

The ball can bounce off the walls, similar to squash, and is similar to a tennis ball but with less pressure.

By the end of 2023, there were more than 500 padel courts in the UK, rising from 50 in 2019.

There are estimated to be 90,000 active players in the UK.

A statement included with the application said extra traffic generated would be "barely discernible".

It suggested additional parking and the canopy covering the courts would have a minimal visual impact.

"Games and activities like this also help the local community in areas such as hospitality... and bring a unique facility to the area to be enjoyed by all."

The council will consider the plans in due course.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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