Tennis club wins battle to raise fence - after neighbours split over stray balls
A tennis club has been granted permission to increase the height of a fence to prevent stray balls from disturbing local residents.
Sandal Lawn Tennis Club said the proposal would “help preserve good neighbour relations” by reducing the number of balls leaving the courts at its facility on Walton Lane.
A planning application to Wakefield Council to raise a chainlink fence by just over a metre, from 2.7m to 3.8m, received a mixed response, with 11 residents supporting the plan and ten opposing it.
People in favour of the plan said it would reduce disturbance for people living nearby and would improve games for players due to fewer balls going missing.
A member of the club, which was established in 1885, commented: “Losing balls over the chain link netting is annoying as a player.
“The balls may get thrown back hours or days later after the game has finished.”
Another supporter said: “The club prides itself on being a good neighbour.
“The provision of higher chain link netting would reduce the impact on the privacy/danger from flying tennis balls.”
A third added: “Contrary to some comments that the neighbours throw what sometimes are brand new balls back, there are residents who refuse to do so when asked politely.”
It was also claimed that raising the fence would be good for the environment.
One comment stated: “Balls are kindly thrown back by neighbours.
“However they are often in an unplayable state, particularly in winter when they get muddy by landing in a garden, so they cannot be used again for tennis.
“Dirty balls can’t be recycled, I believe, so this has an environmental impact as an increased supply of balls is required.”
Those against the scheme said the new structure was “unsightly and unnecessary” and “out of proportion and character with the surrounding area.”
One resident, who described the fence as “overbearing”, said: “The applicant refers to the potential reduction of nuisance to neighbours caused by tennis balls entering their gardens, and implies that this alleged nuisance can, or has, led to poorer neighbour relations.
“No evidence has been provided to support this assertion.
“In my experience, and that of neighbours, tennis balls landing in our gardens have never been seen either as a nuisance or as a cause of poor relations with the tennis club.”
Another opponent said the club’s claim that it would improve neighbour relations was an “excuse”.
They said: “I love the fact the tennis club exists and have lived next to it for over seven years.
“I don’t like, however, that raising the fence by over 1m is being proposed.
“I think it will create an unsightly addition to the view across the fence/hedge lines of permanent residents.”
Approving the proposal, a planning officer’s report said the new fence would be “in keeping” with the surrounding area.
The officer said: “Given its open chain link design and green colour, it is considered that the proposed fencing would not appear visually intrusive or an overly dominant addition to the site and wider area.
“The fencing would not appear significantly different to the existing situation and is considered to have a simple and functional appearance which is appropriate with the context of the site and its established use.”