Residents object to Sutton Lawn Tennis Club plans

RESIDENTS of the roads surrounding Sutton Lawn Tennis Club say they are preparing to fight a recent planning application submitted by the club.

They are objecting to a plan for a permanent indoor structure measuring over 10 metres in height to cover four existing courts.

The proposed permanent structure will be located at the boundary walls of residential homes on Church Road.

The site is surrounded by Greenfield Road, Howth Road and Church Road.

Residents claim the structure will dominate their area and will sit beside an existing temporary ‘Bubble’ structure covering two courts.

They are also objecting to the scale of the structure.

They fear it will impact most homes surrounding the perimeter of the club and beyond.

A picture taken in a residents garden showing the scale and impact of the proposed structure on their property

Sutton Lawn Tennis Club say they need to develop the tennis side of the club following the additions of a gym and two new squash courts over the past seven years.

The club say the proposed structure will mean four courts will be available all year round and because it will be permanent, they will have an enhanced playing surface.

The ‘Bubble’ they currently use to provide cover for two courts is only permitted to be up from mid-September to mid-April.

Shane Maguire has lived on Church Road for 25 years and is one of the residents objecting to the club’s plans.

“Look, I have a lot of friends in the club, it’s a wonderful local sporting and social amenity,” Mr Maguire told Northside People.

“However, the scale of this proposal in a mature and long-settled residential area is massive and utterly unreasonable.

“We believe the plan is a huge over-development of the site, detrimentally altering the residential character of the streets surrounding the club.

“Most of the residents living around here are against the club’s proposal,” he claimed.

Dan O Callaghan is also a resident of Church Road and a member of the tennis club.

“We are devastated about this recent planning application that has been made, to build a 30-foot high shed that will back onto our back garden and the gardens of others,” he told Northside People.

“We have been members of the club for nearly 20 years, with my wife an enthusiastic member representing the club in many competitions over the years.

“This decision has pitched us against our friends who will not have a 30-foot shed backing on to their back garden.”

Fiona Tierney also lives on Church Road and is likewise opposed to the tennis club’s permanent structure.

“The traffic in the Sutton area at the weekends has been increasingly busy, and this is not helped by the tennis club’s one lane to either enter or exit posing real difficulties,” she said.

John McAvoy, Chairman of the Development Committee of Sutton Lawn Tennis Club, told Northside People he doesn’t believe the proposed structure will be intrusive.

“We are being open and honest about all this, we don’t want to fall out with the neighbours,” he said.

“Prior to lodging our application, we met with the local residents last December and presented our drawings and plans because we always want to be good neighbours.

“They made it clear they wanted the structure in another part of the club, but we can’t have it where they wanted it as it would be just outside the clubhouse.

“The addition of indoor facilities would be a leap forward for the club.

“At the moment the ‘Bubble’ is constantly booked out for six months of the year.

“We have conducted a shadow survey and while it revealed that there will be some shadowing, it will not be intrusive.

“As regards traffic problems, we would love to build an exit road to Greenfield Road but unfortunately it’s not possible because of the houses there.

“It’s unfortunate that the neighbours are against this but we don’t see the structure as too intrusive.

“We’ve submitted our detailed plan and it’s up to Fingal County Council now.”