FAQ
Is this a Napton project?
Most definitely yes – with advanced booking, cheaper club membership and cheaper court hire prices for Napton residents. Napton residents will always have better access to the courts than people travelling from outside the village.
It is being co-ordinated by three Napton Villagers (Tim Coker, Andy Riley and Tom Williams) who are looking at the feasibility and desirability of having Padel up at the sports field. We are listening to everyone’s point of view.
Where will the courts be?
We are looking at the area of flat ground between the car parking spaces and the tennis courts.
Is Padel the same as Pickleball?
No it isn’t. Pickleball is also a racquet sport but uses a different bat, different balls, a different scoring system and a different court.
How will I book a court?
Courts would be booked online which makes clear when the courts are available and how much it costs to hire the court.
How far in advance would I be able to book a court?
We would put in place a booking system that gives villagers priority. Most clubs allow bookings up to 1 or 2 weeks ahead. This could be variable according to whether you live in Napton, and/or are a members.
How much would it cost to play Padel in Napton?
We don’t know yet. It is likely to be a mix of membership fees and court hire (reduced for Napton villagers, and people with long-term health problems).
How long will they take to build?
From instructing contractors, following planning permission approval, they should be up and running about 12 to 16 weeks later. There should be very minimal disruption to the other sports facilities during the construction period.
Will there be parking difficulties?
Parking is something we are looking at in case the courts are very popular. We have looked at increasing the parking area to nearer the exercise equipment and that may be an option.
How noisy is Padel?
Padel is slightly noisier than tennis but quieter than enthusiastic football played on the Multi-use Games Area. The nearest houses are approximately 100 metres from the courts and have natural screening from trees and buildings. The noise from the courts would be less than the normal ambient sounds of a rural village. We have had a full acoustics survey performed and you can read the full Napton Padel Acoustics Report here.
Will there be access to showers, toilets, a bar and a café?
Not initially. Our focus is on the courts.
What security will there be?
Security would remain, initially, as it is, with the rhino posts at the entrance to the sports field. There would be additional locked access to the courts.
Why Padel courts? Why not Pickleball, Squash, or Basketball?
Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world. Currently, the nearest public Padel courts to Napton are about 40 minutes drive away. Padel in Napton broadens the choice of sports to cover changes in sporting interests. It would be used as a community asset. It is expected that its broad appeal to the local area would bring some profit. These profits could then be used for further sports development in the area.
Can you play Padel in the winter?
You certainly can! Just like tennis, come rain or wind. But we are looking at the option of having a roof on the courts that would make it a more pleasurable experience.
Have you considered access for people with long-term health conditions?
We have indeed. We are conducting a survey which asks people who consider themselves to have a long-term health condition to tell us what is needed – right from the start of planning, to installation, to access to playing and courts and coaching.
How will I know how to play?
We have thought about this too since about half the people who have answered the questionnaires don’t know much (or indeed know nothing) about the sport. We would make coaching available through our coach, put a board up with rules and regulations, and teaching videos on the Facebook and Web pages. See more for videos and rules here. https://youtu.be/i8Xt_itvQOc and https://ipadel.co.uk/The-Rules
Who would pay for this?
We are looking at a wide range of resources, from loans, grants, investors, and sponsors. The parish council is also supporting us financially to complete our planning application using its existing sports field budget.
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