Plans for Northampton tennis bubble are burst
A 29ft plastic bubble cannot be built over two tennis courts in Northampton after councillors said the development would not be fair on people living nearby.
The Northampton County Lawn Tennis Club first revealed plans to build the inflatable plastic bubble over two of their tennis courts in Church Way, Weston Favell in September last year.
But last night, members of Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee said the development was ‘not on’ because it would be too close to nearby houses.
Speaking during the meeting of the committee at the Guildhall, two people who live close to the tennis club said they feared the bubble, which would have reached up to 29ft and been 111ft long, would overshadow their houses.
They also expressed concerns about the noise which would be generated by the fans used to keep the bubble inflated.
Their concerns were echoed by members of the planning committee.
Councillor Matthew Golby (Con, New Duston) said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to have something like this in an urban location. It would be more suited to somewhere like the Racecourse.”
He was backed by Councillor Dennis Meredith (Lib Dem, Talavera), who added: “I don’t think it would be fair for the club to have the bubble in this location.
“It’s great that people use the club, but this is not on.”
After debating the issue, the committee voted by a majority of six to two to refuse the application.
Until 2006, a similar bubble to the one which was proposed by the club stood on the Racecourse in Northampton. It had to be taken down because of vandalism.
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Olivia
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:29 PMDo houses get refused planning because they might add an extension later, NO. Simple physics state that a convexed area can not reflect light so I guess any glare would have been reduced. Think the tennis club should appeal to iron out any incompetence.
Finker
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:02 PMSo planning permissions are now decided not on what they are asking for but what they might apply for in future? If there is a potential issue with lighting then get more info on it. Sounds like 'incompetence' may well be taking the advice of the planning officer, what a sorry state of affairs. The neighbours knew they were buying next to a sports club and got their house cheaper because of that.
Dribble
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:02 PMTo answer the last two points: The planning application was initially for 6 continuous months, but there is suspicion that that would be the thin end of the wedge. The bubble has still not had a report on how much glare or light would be reflected onto the neighbouring properties. The blow for sport is that the Tennis Club managed their planning so incompetently.
Duncan Roomyhatchback Duncan
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:08 AMI thought it would only be up for about 3 months of the year so what is the problem? I bet it would have been given permission if the neighbours were in council houses on a council estate!
Olivia
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:00 PMNCLTC did make a pre planning enquiry to NBC whose reply was " no objection in principle" There only concerns were noise and glare which have been addressed to satisfy NBC.. The 9 meter high bubble would not have been as intrusive as the 10 meter high houses over looking it . A bad blow for sport
4x4 fan
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:44 AMWilli Eckaslyke - Following your comment that NLTC 'would love my 4x4' - perhaps you should consider that some cars such as the A*** TT are in fact permanent 4 wheel drive of which therer are a number of townies driving these, so you should not consider that all 4x4's are diesel guzzeling monsters
lady muck
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:50 PMIt wouldn't have been acceptable if it was a building with these dimensions so why was it ever assumed that an inflatable bubble would have been acceptable ?
Phil123
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:22 PMCommonSense, I don't live there so can't comment on whether they should redevelop their courts. I was just saying that in a sleepy, quiet corner of Northampton this doesn't sound like the right location for this.
Finker
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:31 PMWhat, you mean you were making comments without checking your facts - better be careful or people will criticise you for that. :)
Dribble
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:24 PMFinker: I have no idea! I guess they have much more money than sense...
Finker
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:19 PMDribble, since you are in the know, why did they apply for the current position as they will now have to pay for the plans to be revised?
HrolfK
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:18 PMThe application had so little chance it seems odd they went this far. If they'd taken it off the table before reaching this stage they'd have been given their money back, but now it's cost them. What's the management of the club like? They don't seem to know what they're doing... or were they pursuing this for other reasons?
willi eckaslyke
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:14 PM4x4 fan....you would fit in well at a tennis club...they would simply love your 4x4 and your notions on an all-year grass court could prove to be a great talking point...they'll kick themselves for not having thought of it before.
Dribble
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:10 PMYou should really get to know the facts before spouting such rubbish. The facts are that the club has a very good alternative place to put its bubble, much further from any housing and on much lower ground where it would be almost out of site. Instead they stupidly chose to put it right up against their neighbours fences on high ground. Simply stupid! Never fear, it won't be long before a new application comes along to place it where it should have been in the first place. Clearly the Council planning committee could see that the Tennis club had dropped the ball. Game set and Match to common sense!
4x4 fan
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:27 PMWhen a neighbouring council decides to build a state of the art tennis acadamy, there will be up roar by the people of Northampton. Is there any wonder why this country cannot produce a decent tennis player for the likes of Wimbledon - because places like Northampton do not offer all round grass courts to be played on year round. I wonder which councillor lives in Weeston Favell village and does not want this on their doorstep? Suggestions for the tennis club would be to build a bus station as ugly as Greyfriars, a hotel, offices houses or even shops as the council always approve these applications or so it seems. Improve the public ammenities, attract larger companies to trade and lets turn this town into the slum that it's fast becoming. No I don't play tennis.
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