President of the Gerrards Cross Community Association has said plans to build new padel courts at the village’s memorial centre will go ahead – but won’t affect local allotment holders.

The plans to replace two tennis courts on East Common with a new padel facility were submitted by Dale Venn Architects on behalf of the community association, also known as GXCA, and a local tennis business.

While not part of technical application, GXCA moved to “evict” seven allotment holders from the land adjoining the tennis court space last month for “repurposing” into a seating area by the new padel nets.

Patricia Cross, 72, told the Free Press she was “heartbroken” by the plans and at the loss of a “lovely, peaceful area” that had offered a refuge to residents without gardens of their own for over 15 years.

The plans also garnered backlash from residents at the nearby Marsham Lodge, a housing estate backing onto the centre.

Sarah Williams, 52, said she was worried about noise and light pollution from the sport, which produces a lot of noise because of the material used for the racket and the noise of the ball against the glass cage encircling the court.

Seemingly taking this feedback into account, the application was withdrawn last week – though GXCA president Tony Aston told the Free Press it will be submitted with some changes that consider its “negative reaction”.

He said the changes would primarily relate to the “noise and lighting implications” of the new facility, but added that, in its revised form, the development would “not use the land (currently) occupied by allotments”, at least before the end of this year.

“In the unlikely event of changes (after 2024), they will be fully discussed with the holders to accommodate their needs.”

Mr Aston said the amendments would “strengthen the application by adding comprehensive analysis by independent experts” and include an “acoustic shield” modelled by a specialist engineer.

“GXCA remains firmly of the opinion that the padel courts will be major addition to the sporting and exercise facilities available to the residents of Gerrards Cross.

“Further, we believe the financial aspects of the padel court proposal are very positive, the risk to GXCA is very low, and that the project will significantly help its recovery from the financial effects of COVID – a further step to ensure its long-term survival.

“We are keen that all concerns are fully addressed and resolved to the satisfaction of all parties as quickly as possible. The replacement application will be filed in the next few weeks."