David Lloyd gym in Bristol allowed to keep padel courts installed without planning permission despite wildlife fears

Councillors have allowed a private premium fitness club in north Bristol to keep two floodlit padel courts built without planning permission despite concerns over wildlife in nearby woods. The city council’s development control committee granted retrospective consent to the David Lloyd gym in Westbury-on-Trym by 5-3 votes.

Members deferred the application in September because of conflicting evidence about the presence of bats, owls and badgers in Badock’s Wood, a site of nature conservation interest. Neighbours have complained that the racquet sport sounds like “gunshots” when the ball hits the glass walls that surround the court.

But councillors approved the new facilities, which replaced an outdoor tennis court, when it came back on Wednesday, November 20, although they reduced the daily finishing time to 9pm instead of 10pm that the club had asked for on weekdays. There were more than 50 objections to the proposals, including from Friends of Badock’s Wood and Westbury-on-Trym Society.

David Lloyd Leisure submitted an ecological survey showing there would be no harm to protected species or neighbours by either light or noise from the site in Greystoke Avenue, despite the firm installing four six-metre floodlights, and planning officers advised the committee to give the go-ahead. Ward Cllr Kye Dudd (Labour, Southmead) told the meeting: “I’m very disappointed that the applicant hasn’t followed the due process and this is a retrospective application.

“I’m very concerned about the impact on nocturnal animals. I can see how the bats are impacted.

“We have the impact of noise on local residents. Some residents reported the noise as sounding like gunshots going off with the ball hitting the walls of the court.

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“The hours of use should be limited further, they are far too generous. We need to make sure the lighting is bat-friendly.”

Cllr Lisa Stone (Green, Windmill Hill) said: “This continuous noise throughout the day, I can really see a loss of amenity for local people because it’s relentless.” Cllr Guy Poultney (Green, Cotham) said: “I’m willing to take the evidence we’ve heard from councillors, the Friends group, the local nature group and local residents as being a little more comprehensive than I’m sure very professionally collected evidence that we’ve had from the applicant.

“Given the volume and the number of objections we’ve had stated again and again there’s a problem with noise and light from this site. I’m inclined to take that evidence over the evidence in the officer’s report.”

But planning and environmental health officers said they had no concerns. Senior pollution control officer Mark Curtis said the noise from the padel courts was quieter than surrounding levels, such as road traffic.

He said: “Having gone up there, I certainly wouldn’t describe it as having sounded like gunshots.” Cllr Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) said: “The closest dwelling is about 200 yards from the courts.

“The nearest houses are across the road. There is no harm from noise or light pollution if we put robust conditions in place.”

Cllr Fabian Breckels (Labour, St George Troopers Hill) successfully proposed an amendment to the officers’ recommendation to cut the hours from the requested 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday to 8am to 9pm, the same as weekends and bank holidays.