A parish council has swung into action as it could be game, set and match for traditional indoor tennis in East Hampshire.

Kingsley boasts the only four-court indoor tennis centre in the district with many still associating it with its distinctive dome.

But that status could soon change as plans have been submitted to replace the traditional courts with padel alternatives.

Padel tennis is an “innovative racquet sport” played on a smaller and enclosed court.

The game appears to be a mixture of tennis and squash as the court is surrounded by four walls, so the ball can be played when bounced off its sides.

A decision may depend on definition as permission for the centre was granted in 2003 with the proviso that it’s only used for tennis. 

The applicants feel that padel tennis is another form of the sport and should not be re-categorised.

“The LTA refers to padel tennis as an innovative form of tennis,” state the applicants.

“On this basis, it is considered that the use of the building at Kingsley Tennis Centre for padel tennis remains in the spirit and broad definition of tennis.”

Purists and opponents of the scheme don’t agree and have urged planners to keep the status quo.

“Tennis has been around for centuries and it will be around once this has gone,” said Kingsley Tennis Club member, Jane Alexander.

“This is the only four-court indoor tennis centre in East Hampshire and if you take that away then what’s left?”

Worldham Parish Council have also objected, citing a lack of four-court indoor facilities in East Hampshire following the closure of two courts at Grayshott Health Spa in 2020.

They have objected to the loss of a “valuable local amenity” and believe the application does not align with current EHDC sporting strategy.