Covered padel courts get the green light

THE padel craze will officially come to Rochdale following approval of new courts.

- BY GEORGE LYTHGOE Local Democracy Reporter

Rochdale Padel Club has been granted permission by the council to build six new padel courts on the grounds of the cricket club.

Four of the six proposed courts, earmarked for unoccupied land next to Rochdale Cricket Club's pitch, will be covered to protect players from the weather. The area is underutilised and occasionally used for overflow standing space for cricket spectators, according to planning papers.

The new facility, off Bridgeford Road, would also include a clubhouse building with changing rooms, a cafe and a terraced area.

Padel is commonly described as a mix of racquet sports tennis and squash. Played in pairs, the rapidly growing sport is played on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court.