Tennis courts proposal thrown out after showing ‘flagrant disregard’ for planning law

Posted 10/02/2012

A failure to adhere to planning law has led to proposals for tennis courts to be built in Oxfordshire being thrown out.The Wychwoods Tennis Club wanted to create four tennis courts, as well as a small pavilion and 24 floodlights at Wychwood Golf Club, which is just north of Lyneham, reports the Witney Gazette.But local residents protested about the “flagrant disregard” of planning law, due to the fact it is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty because of the darkness of the skies.Lyneham resident Howard Sherwood pointed out light pollution is a major part of planning law, while Lyneham Parish Meeting chairman Judy Lewis claimed to be “elated” with the decision to turn down the proposals.”We are an unlit and very rural community and it was felt the choice of location for this was very inappropriate,” she said.The tennis club currently boasts three artificial grass pitches, while it claims to have one of the strongest junior clubs in the region.