The proposal 26/P/00279 is for 1 x uncovered padel court on the north side of HSCC and 2 x covered padel courts with a roof structure reaching 8.54m high next to the railway line (on the South side). There is a 2m section of glass then 4m open mesh followed by a roof of 2.54m. They are NOT enclosed or have ANY acoustic treatment as the application would lead you to believe.

The proposed plan is for the padel courts to be open to the general public from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. In essence, this is 15 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The application was submitted by Racket Tribe and NOT the Cricket Club. This is a commercial operation being run in a residential, rural village.

The proposals quote the houses on the southern side of the railway line as “sporadic residential properties”. However the site plan shows over 100 homes where the noise will travel to. The noise will not be limited just to these homes.

The lighting assessment report in the proposal is factually incorrect and misleading stating the use of the light fitting to be used as “Warm” 2700k light. This is not true, the light fittings are only available in a “Cool”4000k  light, which is much brighter and used to mimic daylight. There will be a considerable glow in the night sky until at least 10pm every day. Affecting homes and wildlife.

The noise assessment report is misleading as it takes the train noise as medium and when the measurement was carried out, it was next to a construction site. See below a quote from Peninsular Acoustics relating to the effect two padel courts would have on residential properties :-

“Two courts within 100 meters will likely cause significant noise. Padel courts are notoriously noisy, producing sounds in the range of 70–90dB or above from solid racquets striking balls against glass and mesh walls, a characteristic that frequently gives rise to neighbour disputes. Key concerns include loud, high-pitched, and impulsive sounds generated from early morning to late at night, potential light pollution from floodlights, increased traffic movements, and a significant reduction in tranquillity.”

Wildlife within Horsley Meadows, will rapidly disappear. There will be very few birds, the deer will be displaced and what was originally a peaceful walk will be ruined by constant gunshot like sounds.

The Meadows is an area created from funds from developers in Effingham. West Horsley now has its own SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace). It is surrounded by extra planting which is maturing well. It is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Land Trust. WHPC are involved with this together with HCP. Great for viewing the Sunsets towards Hatchlands.

Please read the West Horsley Parish Councils Neighbourhood Plan 2016/2033: Adopted Version. Sections that relate specifically to this application being:-

Conflict with Policy WH11–Local Green Space; Conflict with Policy WH3–Rural Character and Design; Conflict with Policy WH15–Protection of Dark Skies

Other direct conflicts are:- Noise and Residential Amenity impacts and the significant increase in traffic generation.

Twinn’s Field, where the original Horsley CC club has played since the 1940s, was gifted to West Horsley Parish Council, and the second field, created in 1998 on former agricultural land, is owned and managed by the Club’s Trustees. Both parties fully support the proposed designation of Local Green Space, recognising that this is a truly irreplaceable part of West Horsley. Although this land is located within the Green Belt, it is felt that Local Green Space designation will provide additional planning protection for this area.