Racket sports enthusiasts have warmly welcomed plans by a Wiltshire hotel and spa to build new padel and pickleball facilities.

Padel and pickleball are among the world’s fastest-growing racket sports and enthusiasts say business booms wherever these facilities are provided.

Bishopstrow House in Boreham, Warminster, has submitted three separate planning applications to Wiltshire Council to provide new facilities for its guests.

One of the applications is to convert the existing hard-surfaced outdoor tennis court into a Padel tennis court and a Pickleball court.

The new facilities at Bishopstrow House wou0ld be built on the existing hard surface outdoor tennis courts.The new facilities at Bishopstrow House wou0ld be built on the existing hard surface outdoor tennis courts. (Image: Bishopstrow House)

Commenting on the application, Chris Roberts said: “Heartily welcome this proposal. It would help the court usage if floodlighting could be included.

“Padel and Pickle are some of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Be wonderful to have access to these sports in Warminster.”

Steve Howe said: “What a great thing to come to Warminster, both Padel and Pickle, the fastest growing racket sports in the world.

“Every location across the UK to add these is booming. It’s great to see Warminster ahead of the curve and someone is supporting racket sports.

“There is no other courts locally. With the closest 40min+ drive away, this will pull in people to our community, be great for public health and the youth of today will get hooked when they play these games.

“I support this application 100 per cent. I and others look forward to playing this great sport in Warminster.”

 

 

Padel originated in Mexico in the 1960s and combines elements of tennis and squash, while Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis

Bishopstrow House Hotel & Spa is part of The Kaleidoscope Collection, a hotel group known for its playful and imaginative approach to hospitality.

Bishopstrow Houser also wants to convert its outdoor swimming pool into a natural swimming pond. Bishopstrow Houser also wants to convert its outdoor swimming pool into a natural swimming pond. (Image: Bishopstrow House)

Ian Taylor, of Bishopstrow House Ltd, has also submitted two planning applications to alter the existing outdoor pool area and convert it into a natural swimming pond.

He wants to demolish the walls surrounding the outdoor pool, alter and extend hard and soft landscaping, and provide proposed new spa facilities.

These would include a hydrotherapy pool and plant room, a spa pavilion, one hot tub within a garden pavilion, two screened hot tubs and a change room pavilion.

Warminster Town Council’s planning advisory committee members raised no objections to the applications at their meeting on Monday, September 16.

The applications will now be considered by Wiltshire Council’s planning department, which is expected to decide by early October.