Plans have been confirmed by the Colchester City Council to install five padel tennis courts, along with enclosure walls, fencing, and floodlights, at Leisure World Tennis Centre on Eudo Road.
The padel courts will be situated in a space that is currently redundant at the Tennis centre, adjacent to the existing grass and hard surface tennis courts and allows the community to experience the growing popular sport worldwide in the city.
Padel tennis is a popular racket sport of Mexican origin where participants use plastic and foam bats, described as a mixture of squash and tennis. The game utilises a typical tennis ball, with players required to let the ball bounce before hitting. The sport also incorporates walls, allowing the ball to hit the wall behind the player before being returned to their opponent.
The project is set to receive private funding from Padel United UK, who has earmarked funds for the expansion of padel tennis in the UK.
Richard Hall-Smith of Padel United UK said: "I am delighted to bring padel tennis to my hometown. Born in Colchester and having spent most of my life in the city, I have been searching for the right location to launch in Colchester since the beginning of my padel journey. After working with the councillors for more than two years, it's great to finally bring padel to Colchester!”
Cllr Michelle Burrows, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, said: “We’re excited to unlock the full potential of our public spaces and sport and recreation facilities to improve residents' health, wellbeing, and happiness. By offering facilities that meet community needs, we aim to create a thriving city where everyone can benefit from modern amenities, active lives, and a strong sense of belonging. I believe that anything that can improve the wellbeing and fitness of the people of Colchester can only be a good thing.”
The padel courts will be situated in a space that is currently redundant at the Tennis centre, adjacent to the existing grass and hard surface tennis courts and allows the community to experience the growing popular sport worldwide in the city.
Padel tennis is a popular racket sport of Mexican origin where participants use plastic and foam bats, described as a mixture of squash and tennis. The game utilises a typical tennis ball, with players required to let the ball bounce before hitting. The sport also incorporates walls, allowing the ball to hit the wall behind the player before being returned to their opponent.
The project is set to receive private funding from Padel United UK, who has earmarked funds for the expansion of padel tennis in the UK.
Richard Hall-Smith of Padel United UK said: "I am delighted to bring padel tennis to my hometown. Born in Colchester and having spent most of my life in the city, I have been searching for the right location to launch in Colchester since the beginning of my padel journey. After working with the councillors for more than two years, it's great to finally bring padel to Colchester!”
Cllr Michelle Burrows, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, said: “We’re excited to unlock the full potential of our public spaces and sport and recreation facilities to improve residents' health, wellbeing, and happiness. By offering facilities that meet community needs, we aim to create a thriving city where everyone can benefit from modern amenities, active lives, and a strong sense of belonging. I believe that anything that can improve the wellbeing and fitness of the people of Colchester can only be a good thing.”
Page last reviewed: 1 March 2024