Our lives are being ruined by ‘intolerable’ sports club next door – it sounds like GUNSHOTS going off when they play
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RESIDENTS who live next to an "intolerable" sports club have compared the loud noises to "gunshots" going off. Those neighbouring Winchester Racquets and Fitness club are up in arms about the prospect of an "exponential" worsening of sounds they are subjected to day and night.
![[Peter and Liz Russell's house is just 11ft (3.5 metres) from two tennis courts]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4a19e07b-3280-4ea3-b0ae-0fc155b8c08a.jpg?strip=all&w=764)
Homeowners told how those closest have to cower in their homes with windows shut thanks to the racket caused by Padel. The tennis club, situated in the heart of Winchester, dates back to 1910 and now boasts three Padel courts which members can enjoy the use of after paying a yearly membership of £161.
![[John Colley, 53, said there was no noise problem when all the courts were being used to play tennis]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/f1c304a4-c032-4839-86b8-5579e551e10a.jpg?strip=all&w=728)
Padel, an up-and-coming sport widely thought to be the fastest growing in the world with 25 million players, is a version of tennis played on a similar court. But unlike tennis, a Padel racket is solid with no strings - meaning it makes a very loud noise when striking the ball.
![[The club is just metres away from the neighbouring homes]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RB-23-12-Padel-court_PIC_a04778.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And to the neighbours of the upmarket tennis club, padel is nothing but a nuisance. They are threatening to take legal action all the way to the Supreme Court over "constant" swearing, floodlights as well as the "gunshot" sounds. The club - which neighbours properties that sell well in excess of £1 million - have said they are working with the council to address the noise as they "pursue further padel court developments".
![[The upmarket sports club in Winchester]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/5dc3a885-5fe5-4273-87be-063886bbe47d.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In a newsletter earlier this year, the club's padel committee revealed it was "very keen" to double this number to six in the "near future". However, this has caused uproar with locals, who have recently objected to plans to extend the playing time until 10pm.
![[Peter Chilvers, 81, also weighed in on the debate]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/9d163dc5-9a45-4069-9eb4-a2ef4150c373.jpg?strip=all&w=862)
