Plans unveiled for new sports facility in Melton Mowbray
Plans have been unveiled for a new sports facility adjacent to the town parks in Melton Mowbray.
The scheme would see a new steel-frame building erected close to Wilton Park to accommodate four indoor padel tennis courts – a fast growing racket sport which is usually played in a doubles format on an enclosed court.
Melton Mowbray Town Estate has submitted a planning application to the borough council for the development, which it says would complement its existing facilities there.
The existing redundant toilet block would be extended to form part of the new building, which would have the advantage of being used all-year round.
The new scheme would be built on the site of a children’s play area, mini railway and mini golf facility, which which are all dilapidated and currently not in use.
A boundary of 10 metres would remain undeveloped to form a buffer between the new development and the adjacent River Eye, which is popular with boat users.
A report to go before the planning committee states the new building would be 25 metres from borough council-owned Waterfield Leisure Centre and would be of a similar height and proportion.
The new sports facility would open 16 hours a day, every day, from 5.30am to 10pm, with special concessions for school and community users.
Plans show a ‘pay as you play’ model would be used with hourly court hire.
The new padel building would feature large, glazed sliding doors on all sides to enable a natural airflow – the proposed extension to the existing building would house a new reception area and office.
Padel is seen as one of the UK’s fastest growing sports – there were 51 courts in 2020 and 850 by the end of 2024, with 400,000 regular players.
The nearest current facilities to Melton are at Stamford, Loughborough and Nottingham.
Ward councillor Allen Thwaites has registered his objection to the scheme.
Councillor Thwaites told the Melton Times: “I actively support new sporting facilities in the borough but I believe building on existing parkland and play grounds in a conservation area is the wrong place.
"The Town Estate have much more suitable locations on their Asfordby Road short golf and camping site.”