Homeowner ordered to ‘soundproof’ tennis court after grunting complaints

By Heidi Blake
Published: 9:59AM GMT 10 Mar 2010

Dr Alan Murphy was ordered by planning officers at Swale Borough Council to “sink the court deeper” and plant hedging to “muffle” the sound of grunts in the grounds of his £750,000 home in the village of Throwley, near Faversham in Kent.

Neighbours had complained to planning chiefs that the tennis court would “upset their summer garden parties” and cause a noise nuisance in the little village of just 130 homes, which is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

One resident feared flying tennis balls could land in her Pimms glass if she ventured out onto her lawn during evening drinks. Detatched cottages in the leafy Kent village have sold for as much as £1 million.

Dr Murphy and his wife Lucy have lived at the cottage on Bethel Row – a secluded lane of just eight cottages – for 10 years.

Their plans include the conversion of a barn as well as the brand new sunken tennis court in their grounds.

One of their neighbours, who did not want to be named, said: “I’ve lived here 13 years. I’m just a stone’s throw away from the proposed tennis court.

“Playing tennis will cause a nuisance factor especially if I have to hear the balls bouncing when I’m sitting in my garden during the summer.”

Another, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: “Tennis players always seem to be grunting or screaming whenever they hit the ball – can you imagine having to put up with that all summer?

“It would drive you mad and you would not want to use your garden and the balls would constantly end up in your Pimm’s.”

A resident of Throwley stated the tennis court had caused “quite a spat” in the village. “Some people are just not happy about it at all as they think it will disrupt their garden parties and generally cause a disturbance what with balls bouncing all over the place and players making a lot of noise,” she said.

Dr Murphy’s proposal to the council reads: “Listed building consent for converting old barn into annexe. New tennis court and ancillary works.”

Councillors considered the complaints but gave approval last week for the tennis court to be built on the condition that steps are made to “soundproof” it.

Dr Murphy, who has concurred to take the necessary steps to grant the court to be built, has also been banned from installing floodlights so matches can’t be played at night.

source : www.telegraph.co.uk