Green light for padel courts in former grain store

1 hour ago

Tony FisherBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

News image — The padel courts have been operating on the farm in Bedfordshire since January

Andrew Mahon Padel court rackets hanging by the side of a padel court which is blue with white lines. The rackets have "Podington Padel" written on them. — The padel courts have been operating on the farm in Bedfordshire since January

An arable farmer's application for a rural padel court has been approved after receiving 170 letters of support.

Andrew Mahon sought retrospective planning permission for Podington Padel, which opened in January in a converted grain store at his farm in the village in Bedfordshire.

Councillors on the planning committee on Bedford Borough Council had refused the application at Greys Farm in June as they argued it should be sited in the town centre.

But on Monday they unanimously approved the development, which Mahon described as a victory for common sense.

The Conservative councillor for Harrold ward, Alison Foster, had called in the decision to refuse the application by Bromborough Estate the first time round.

She said refusing it then was "discrimination against rural areas and it makes me angry", adding: "Planners don't realise that 40% of people in the borough live in rural areas."

Andrew Mahon A man wearing a blue shirt looking into the camera. He has short brown hair and a short beard. He is wearing sunglasses on the top of his head and is standing in a field. — Andrew Mahon said he needed the padel courts to "keep farming" as "growing wheat does not pay the bills"

About 30 supporters from Podington attended the meeting at Borough Hall.

Mahon said he had been "blown away by the level of support" for the padel courts, which have a membership of more than 1,000 people.

"We have not made a profit for two years and we are not forecast to make one next year," he said.

"The cost of production has gone up and the price of wheat has not gone up in line with that.

"Growing wheat does not pay the bills and having padel courts provides an alternative revenue stream."

Freya Morgan, chair of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in Bedfordshire, said: "More than 90% of farm businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises and increasingly these businesses are needing to create additional income by exploring other business opportunities.

"We need planning authorities and communities to work with us to help farmers to continue this good work."

Andrew Mahon Two padel courts in a converted grain store. There are vending machines on the left with some plants in pots. The courts are blue with white lines and there are grey curtains surrounding them. — The padel courts in the converted grain store on the farm in Podington

Podington, Hinwick, and Farndish Parish Councils were among those in favour of the project, stating that the development was "rural diversification" with "a large amount of local support and community demand, along with physical and wellbeing benefits to the members".

Foster said she had "received so many letters from people to say it gets them out to play sport".

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