'We don't want noisy padel courts near our gardens'

"I think it is a great game, just not to have playing right beside people's houses."

Jason Kerrigan is talking about padel - a four-player alternative to tennis that is booming in popularity.

But the sport is dividing communities, including in his neighbourhood of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, where neighbours have expressed concerns over plans for three new courts.

The 52-year-old says the "wretched" noise created by padel can be as loud as "gunshots", but the club insists the proposals are an exciting development for the wider community.

"It's going to be awful for me; it's my back garden, but it's going to be much worse for our neighbours," Mr Kerrigan said.

"There are a hundred old age pensioners [in the area], ranging from 70 years old to well into their nineties."

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) describes padel as "the fastest-growing sport in the world".

Invented in Mexico in the late 1960s, the unique mix of squash and tennis has an estimated 90,000 active players in the UK.

The current singular padel court at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club, on Highbridge Road, is one of more than 500 across the country.

It was installed in 2017, and the club says it is often full, with members and the wider public unable to get a slot.

But 91-year-old Brenda Catterall, who also lives nearby, says the noise is bad enough as it is.

"It makes me feel it will be unbearable to live here," she said.

"It won't help with my property. It will take the value off my property."

John Baker, 79, who is also opposed to the plans which back on to his property, added that he feared he would not be able to sit in his garden due to the noise.

"I don't think people realise the noise it makes," he said.

There have also been objections in other areas of the country, including Surrey, Cheltenham and Weybridge, though many schemes have been approved.

In Wolverhampton, plans have been granted to build three new courts at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, pending a noise survey when they are completed.

Steve Chilvers, club chairman, said it was important to bring your neighbours with you.

"You've got to talk to your neighbours first," he said.

"If you can't satisfy their concerns, then obviously you do have a bit of a problem."

Peter Whatson, club secretary at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club, insisted the plans would not impact residents and added that concerns about noise, light pollution and parking had all been taken into account.

"This is a really exciting development for the club which will also bring great benefits to the wider community," he said.

"As a sports club we have to work hard and continually look forward to ensure our future viability, and it is critical that we remain relevant.

"Padel tennis is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world, and it needs to be part of our offering, offsetting the 22% decline in squash and tennis membership over the last ten years."

Birmingham City Council is expected to consider the proposals in the coming weeks.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.