A tennis club at the centre of a noise row objected to plans to build flats next to their courts by arguing that future occupants would end up complaining about them.
Winchester Racquets and Fitness Club has faced a deluge of complaints from nearby homeowners about being forced to endure barrages of rallying, 'gunshot-like' noises and 'constant' swearing from players.
The club was served a noise abatement order earlier this year following the uproar from neighbours living in the £1million homes in the surrounding area.
In a bid to avoid further complaints, the club publicly objected to a proposal to redevelop a neighbouring care home into a block of flats, which is even closer to the Padel courts than any of the houses who have complained.
It stated that any future residents of the 32 apartments would likely be at 'high risk' of hearing its members play the sport and urged the authority to consider the noise impact on future occupants before approving the development.
The racquets group referred to previous issues caused by the noise and stated that while they sought to live 'harmoniously' with their current neighbours, they have been subject to complaints.
Winchester Racquets and Fitness made an objection to the plans, which was lodged on their behalf by noise company, 24 Acoustics, shortly after they were submitted by developer Archel Homes in 2023.
But despite this - and 64 other objections - the development was given the green light earlier this year.
The club's objection stated: 'Winchester Racquets and Fitness has always sought to co-exist harmoniously with its residential neighbours but has received complaints about noise from the use of the Padel courts from residents residing in Berweeke Close.
'This is a matter that WRF are taking very seriously and they are currently in the process of investigating options and means of reducing the noise impact.
'The proposed development on the former nursing home site is significantly closer to the Padel courts than the existing housing on Berweeke Close.
'It is therefore clear that if planning consent is granted for the redevelopment of the forming nursing home site as proposed that there will be a high risk of a significant adverse noise impact on the residents from the legitimate operation of the WRF's Padel courts.'
In the objection they said that development should not be granted until Winchester City Council are 'satisfied' that the residents can 'co-exist without causing significant adverse noise impact on the future occupants of the proposed development'.
The development was given the green light earlier this year by council chiefs. The planners said that they have given 'full regard' to the comments made by the club.
They said that when granting permission to the racquets club to open Padel courts in 2020, the council itself concluded that residents at the care home would 'not be substantially impacted' by the operation of the courts.
The company further referred to the fact that 'noise levels were in fact lower when compared to the tennis courts which were previously situated where the padel courts are now'.
Padel is widely-considered the fastest growing sport in the world with over 25 million players across the globe.
Unlike in tennis, a Padel racket is solid with no strings and thicker meaning it makes a very loud noise when striking the ball.
The Winchester clubwere subject to a noise abatement order after complaints from residents over the noise created by the sport.
This was after they were formally investigated by the city council over the sounds players are making and the bad language they were accused of using.
In a message to members, the club warned that padel may face new restrictions in order to turn down the volume.
Neighbours criticised the club after they announced plans to double the number of courts they have from three to six last year.
Peter and Liz Russell - whose house is just 11ft (3.5 metres) from two tennis courts - spoke about the matter at the time.
They have lived on the road for 40 years - the last 15 of which have been 'very good' since officials agreed to remove floodlights from the courts near their home.
But when the retired company director and teacher got wind of the club's plans to convert them to be used for Padel, they decided to take action.
Mr Russell, 75, said: 'I have said I would take it as far as the Supreme Court. Life would not be tolerable in this house.'
He said if approved, it would cause the house's value to plummet and impact their selling ability, as well as 'any sense of relaxation' they could have in their garden due to 'gunshot' like sounds.
'Padel is providing exercise to retired people who are not particularly mobile - Liz and I would like to play it. But it must not be close to private houses and private gardens.
'Tennis has never caused this level of opposition. We can live with tennis - it's nothing like Padel. Nobody realised how noisy, disruptive and objectionable these courts would be.'
He said the courts were 'causing a massive disturbance to people in their private homes'.
John Colley, 53, lives in a separate cul-de-sac of houses where several rear gardens back onto the club's Padel courts.
'When they were tennis courts, it was not a problem,' he said.
'Padel is an easier to play, so different people playing it and they are shouting a lot, occasionally using foul language.'
Speaking on the prospect of six courts, the retail worker said: 'That is crazy. I would challenge very strongly, them putting anymore courts up.
'They are playing from 8am to 9pm. I'm not against people playing it, but there is lots of space towards the back of the club where there are not near residential.
'They just haven't really thought it through.'
He said neither the residents or the council's planning officials 'really knew' the extent of the noise the tennis alternative would produce.
'The actual sound from the Padel racket is incredibly loud,' he continued, 'not withstanding all the shouting and swearing. It's constant, all day.
'I'm sitting in the garden with my children listening to people swearing. There's guys clattering around, you have to go inside and shut the windows but sometimes you can still hear them.'
He explained he had complained to the club, but all he got back was 'very nice' emails, before it happened again.
'It has been terrible this year, it's not getting better and if anything it's getting worse,' he said. 'This isn't a test case, the club should be doing something about it.'
Peter Chilvers and his wife live in a house which also has a garden backing on to the Padel courts, meaning they often have to take cover from the noise inside.
The 81 year old said: 'I think it's a joke. The tennis club has been there a long time.
'It used to be a good neighbour, but they have expanded and expanded.
'Sometimes you might get a noisy coach but that was all part of it.
'Padel maybe a good thing for the world, but it's not a good thing for neighbours.'
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