Padel courts approved despite cemetery concerns

Two padel courts have been approved in a village despite objections that noise could disturb visitors to a nearby cemetery.

North Yorkshire Council has granted consent for the two end-to-end outdoor courts at Cayton Playing Fields near Scarborough.

Council officers said concerns about noise and light disturbance to the nearby cemetery had been addressed between the applicant and the parish council.

As a result a planning condition had been imposed that the facilities could not be used during, or one hour before or after, a burial is scheduled.

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."

Players would be able to book sessions via an online app and the facilities would be monitored by CCTV.

Maintenance would be undertaken by the wider playing fields staff, with glass cleaned every one or two weeks and the artificial turf refreshed every week.

It would operate between 08:00 and 21:00 on weekdays and between 09:00 and 21:00 at the weekend.

Writing in support of the courts, the playing fields association and the Cayton Corinthian Junior Football Club said they would bring "much-needed revenue" to the association.

They said: "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 from a resident raised concerns about noise and light pollution, but the application said the LED floodlights would only be used when it is dark and when the courts are booked and paid for.

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, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.