Decision made on controversial plans for padel courts in Limerick

PLANNERS have cleared the way for Limerick Lawn Tennis Club to serve up padel courts on its grounds.

The local authority has afforded conditional planning permission to the club at Ennis Road on the city's northside to convert two of its tennis courts to use for padel, a game invented in Mexico, which is growing in popularity here.

The approval came despite three local residents expressing concern that the new courts will cause disruption in their neighbourhood.

As revealed by Limerick Live, one person living close to the tennis club compared the sound of a padel ball being hit to that of “gunshots”.

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One person wrote that where they live, in neighbouring Lansdowne Park, the houses were constructed using single block walls.
Her home, she wrote, has less soundproofing than newer-builds, having been constructed in the 1930s.

“Currently, even with windows closed, the thumping sound of tennis balls and the mumbling banter of associated play is audible. These sounds are pleasant to hear. However, I have major concerns with the development of padel courts due to the noise generated in padel play,” the resident wrote.

“Padel play uses a solid racket and together with the impact of the ball on the surfaces and the nature of play creates loud noise levels comparable to gunshots,” they added.

The local resident pointed to guidelines from padel court manufacturers, which recommend courts should be built at least 100 metres from the nearest building.

In affording planning permission, council set a condition that the court will only be able to operate between 9am and 9pm.

The club will not be allowed to operate the floodlights on these courts outside of these hours.

This, council planners say is being done in the interest of residential amenity and to ensure compliance with approved lighting and landscaping measures.