The application by Rye Lawn Tennis Club to build a new covered structure to provide three indoor tennis courts on Military Road was discussed, and approved, at Rother District Council’s (RDC) Planning Committee meeting on Thursday May 31.
RDC’s planner's had original recommended refusal of the application on the grounds that the proposed building would be a “new isolated development” in the open countryside and that the “scale of the building would appear unduly prominent and have a significant intrusive impact on both the local and rural character of Military Road.”
The application had previously been discussed at the Planning Committee meeting in June 2017, when it was resolved that a decision be deferred for further discussions and clarity on design, ecological information, landscaping, drainage details and details on how the public would be able to access the new covered tennis courts. While the tennis club is within Rye the new extension sits within Playden Parish. Councillor Paul Osborne, leader of Playden Parish Council, requested passionately that the scheme be rejected because of strong local objections and on the basis that "it's just a massive industrial shed" which will be built on a field that is currently used as a temporary car park during competitions. This will in turn force people to park along the length of Military Road when they visit the club. Rye Town Council had opposed the scheme as had Rye Conservation Society, who objected to the development because it is an “industrial scale building in a rural landscape." And massive it is. The proposed building will be 37m by 57m or as Councillor Osborne put it, "two 737 planes could fit inside it". The application did receive one letter of support from a local resident, who felt covered tennis courts would encourage more people to play. This was reiterated in a letter of support from Amber Rudd, MP, and the Councillor most in favour of the scheme was Rye's representative on RDC, Lord Ampthill. He took the time to dismiss individually all the written objections. A number of Councillors had questioned how the local community would benefit when the Tennis Club was an "elitist" members-only club. It was pointed out that the same question had been asked a year ago when the last application was debated. The Tennis Club had failed to submit a plan with the new application covering off how they were going to engage with local residents and school children to ensure more people benefit from this all weather facility. This outstanding issue didn't sway the Councillors and the Planning Committee delegated approval of the new extension in a vote of six in favour to four against.
Photo: Simon Kershaw (main photo)
