Enfield’s only padel tennis club is at risk of closing due to noise complaints

Council has served Hazelwood Padel Club with a noise abatement notice following complaints from a neighbour, reports James Cracknell

The district’s only padel tennis facility could be forced to close by Enfield Council following noise complaints from a local resident.

Hazelwood Padel Club in Winchmore Hill has been running for almost a decade, at a time when the racquet sport has become one of the fastest growing in the world.

But noise complaints from a local resident prompted the council to issue two noise abatement notices despite the club having already spent thousands on soundproofing. Now he says he can’t afford to take additional measures to reduce the noise.

Graham Taafe, co-owner of Padel Tennis London, which runs the two-court facility at Hazelwood Sports Club in Winchmore Hill, told Winchmore Hill Dispatch: “This is the first padel tennis club in Enfield and when we opened the council was excited about it, we did a press day and everything. I had no problem.

“At the end of 2021 we submitted a planning application for the second court and that’s when we received the first noise complaint from a neighbour. The council allowed us to build the yard – but now they’re trying to shut us down.”

To try and reduce noise pollution, Padel Tennis London spent thousands installing soundproofing around the top of the second court, but this failed to stop the complaints.

“When we reopened after lockdown, everyone wanted to play sports, but I think he (the neighbor) was used to being quiet,” Graham said.

“Padel tennis is a fast growing sport, there are hundreds of people in Enfield playing it. They (the council) want to get people healthier and it’s one of the easiest sports to play – it’s fun and exciting.

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“We’ve spent £7,000 trying to reduce the noise on top of £150,000 building courts and now they’re telling us not to use them.”

The council says the “ball is in the club’s court” and that it has a responsibility to reduce noise.

A spokesman said: “The council has a legal duty to investigate all noise complaints from residents. If a substantiated complaint is received from one or more residents, we are legally required to provide a notification.

“In 2022 a letter was sent to Hazelwood Sports Club to inform them of a noise complaint. Council officers visited the owners to discuss the matter when no action was taken.

“The club continued to take no action so a reduction notice was served. Before an appeal could be heard, it was agreed to withdraw the notice in July 2023 on the understanding that steps would be taken to address the noise nuisance problem, which their own acoustics consultant agreed existed.

“A deadline of November 2023 has been agreed for the club to take action to reduce noise nuisance. A barrier was installed around one of the padel courts, but this did not solve the problem, so a new notice was issued in February.

“At no time did the council suggest or instruct that the padel tennis courts close. The ball is now firmly in the club’s court to decide on the most appropriate action to reduce the noise.”

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