Despite concerns about the impact on the surrounding countryside, a farming family have won their fight to create East Lothian’s first indoor padel courts on a field.
Farming groups, sports organisations and local landowners all gave their support to the plans by the Logan family to diversify their business with the new facility.
And a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Local Review Body today backed the plans which had been rejected by planning officers.
Review Body member Councillor Donna Collins, who is also an East Lothian farmers, told the meeting she supported the efforts by the family to diversify their business adding: “Agriculture is a difficult business at the moment. People want this, we have had lots of support and I am going to support it.”
The National Farmers Union, Scottish Association of Young Farmers, Tennis Scotland and local politician Paul McLennan were among those who put their name to a letter to elected members urging them to back the sports facility.
In their statement they said: “Access to recreational opportunities is especially important in rural areas.
“If we want family farms to remain viable, rural communities to thrive and people to have access to services and recreation closer to home, we must allow appropriate rural businesses to adapt and diversify.
“In our view, refusing this proposal would mean losing a significant opportunity to support rural enterprise, healthier communities and local investment for very limited impact.”
The plans for a shed which would contain two padel courts to be built on the field, in a similar style to surrounding agricultural buildings, were rejected by council planners who said they did not represent a leisure “directly related to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, infrastructure or countryside recreation”.
But while review body member Councillor Colin Yorkston agreed with officers saying it was clearly not an activity which related to the rural surroundings and he questioned how it fitted in with Scottish Government ambitions to reduce car use when people would have to travel to the local in private vehicles.
However fellow councillor Jeremy Findlay disagreed pointing out the lack of public transport to the area was the fault of the local council and bus companies, not the applicant.
He added: “I think it is a countryside leisure activity in that it is an activity which will take place on a countryside location.”
Review body chairperson Councillor Andy Forrest also backed officers telling the meeting: “I know farms have to diversify but I am not sure this is what they need.”
In their appeal statement the Logan family said diversifying the farm, which is a working arable farm which they have owned since the 1930s would support its viability.
They said: “Athelstaneford village is centrally located within East Lothian, providing convenient access for surrounding rural communities.
“The site is well positioned to serve a wide catchment area, with more than 15 towns and villages located within a 20-kilometre radius, including Dunbar, Prestonpans, Gifford, and North Berwick.
“This project aims to promote health, well-being, social interaction and community participation, providing accessible opportunities in a rural location.”
Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. It is a discipline of tennis which is easy to learn and popular with all age groups and abilities.
The application was granted on appeal by three votes to two with Councillors Collins, Findlay and Cher Cassini approving it and councillors Yorkston and Forrest against it.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
