Tennis club fails in new bid for floodlit courts

STOCKTON Heath Tennis Club has failed in a new bid to win planning consent for floodlit courts – 24 years after it first sought permission for the upgrade.
The club in Delphfields Road, Appleton, has seven full size courts – five of which are all-weather artificial grass.
But Warrington’s development management committee turned down their application for the floodlights after hearing of opposition from Appleton Parish Council and nearby residents.
Nearly 50 neighbours had signed a protest petition and 21 sent individual letters of objection so councillors overturned an officers’ recommendation and refused permissions.
The officers had argued that the lighting scheme had been scaled down since the last unsuccessful application, earlier this year, and as a result would be well below the level that could cause concern.
Officers say the proposed lighting scheme has been scaled down since the last unsuccessful application to reduce the level of light spillage. As a result, lighting would be reduced well below the level that could cause concern.
However, the objectors – including the parish council – argued that that the lighting and noise would still have an impact on nearby homes.
They pointed out that the club has the use of nearby floodlit courts at Bridgewater High School which they have used for many years.