Six padel courts planned for Chelmsford will help increase fitness and improve health across city, according to the club behind them. It is proposed that the new padel club will operate as a standalone club, but physically the the club will operate in close conjunction with Falcon Bowling Club, which is behind the plans.
Memberships for the new padel club will, by default, include a social membership for the bowling club. This will not only ensure ongoing financial support for the bowling club but also increase its exposure to potential new members using the padel facilities. The plan says Falcon Bowling Club and its Junior Academy have established strong community links, including partnerships with Chelmsford City Council and involvement with The Chelmsford City Schools Partnership.
It adds: “This proposal therefore not only provides an opportunity to protect the longevity of the club and its existing important role in the community, but also to offer a new facility and new sports and leisure.”
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If passed, the plans will increase the total number of padel courts to eight. Padel is growing in popularity at a significant rate. Padel is a four-player sport played in doubles on a smaller version of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls. The rules and scoring are similar to tennis, except the ball can be played off the walls around the edges, providing it only bounces once on the defending teams side and makes its way back over the net.
It is played with a firmer bat – without strings and a shorter handle to encourage beginners to pick up the sport quickly. The courts are specifically designed for padel. They are smaller than tennis courts, and you can fit three padel courts into just one tennis court.
Padel promotes physical activity and provides an attractive recreational option for all age groups, the plans say. It adds: “Padel is highly suitable as an inclusive sport because it can be played by people with varying abilities. The barriers are low, and the sport can be easily adapted to meet the needs of individuals with physical or mental disabilities. This promotes integration and creates inclusive communities.”
A statement from the Lawn Tennis Association said: “The LTA are supportive of the proposal to bring padel to Falcon Bowling Club, particularly given its ability to potentially support the LTA Padel Strategy and as there are currently no opportunities to play padel within Central/North Chelmsford. The only current padel provision in the City is to the South of the City at Great Baddow Recreation Ground (2 courts).
“We would welcome the opportunity to work with Falcon Bowling Club to support the development of a community benefit plan which will provide both inclusive padel and engagement with local schools and communities.”