The sandpit saved from being turned into a padel court

CAMDEN Council’s own application to replace a children’s play area with a paid-for padel court was thrown out by its committee of planning councillors on Monday evening.

The floodlit sports facility for Cantelowes Gardens, which had been recommended for approval, was voted down by six councillors to five on grounds of loss of open space, picnic tables and a large sandpit. It follows more than a year of protests from residents with more than 115 of 117 responding to a consultation objecting, and 315 signing a petition including two ward councillors and the conservation area advisory committee. The courts would have been open all week between 9am-9pm.

Dr Alyson Hall Yandoli, representing park users, told the committee: “The proposed court would occupy the peaceful heart of the park. It’s the only park providing a range of play facilities within walking distance. Families value the proximity of the two playgrounds, large sandpit and climbing rocks.” “The sandpit and playgrounds are well designed for children of all ages and for imaginative play.

Teenagers from Camden School for Girls congregate at the picnic tables. Students told us they didn’t want their space replaced by a paid for court.” She added: “We have nothing against padel courts, but it is wrong to place one in a children’s play area in an already constrained park.”

Kentish Town South ward councillor Meric Apak said: “My two sons now in their late 30s practically grew up in this park. Like many they learned to climb and play and make friends here. One of them even met his childhood sweetheart here, and they are now married. My job now is to watch my grandson play in the same park. There are countless families with their own Cantelowes stories.”

He added: “We support opportunities for sport, the question is not whether padel is a good sport but whether this proposal complies with policies?”

Camden had committed to build a new sandpit but as there are no details in the current application. Cllr Apak said he felt it breached rules protected public open spaces.

Labour councillor Meric Apak

The New Journal has reported on the explosion of interest in padel which has led to 10 courts open up at the O2 Centre in Finchley Road. More are planned at a temporary site in Kentish Town at Murphy’s Yard.

The Cantelowes “save our sandpit” campaign was launched in January 2025 by Andrew Deans, who was at the meeting on Monday. The sandpit had been designed by architects with a fictional storyline to inspire children about science and space exploration. It has a 60-tonne Cornish granite boulder as its centrepiece, replicating a meteorite having smashed into the ground, and there is a “rock-strewn furrow” trail of upturned trees and debris, while the sandpit was represented a crater.

Green councillor Jim Monaghan said “open space is someone’s front room” and spoke about the need to protect quiet places without “hurly burly”, adding: “It’s packing in too much into a very small area that works very well. Why despoil it?” There were questions about the pricing of sessions set at £25, or £15 for teenagers. A

nother Green councillor on the committee, Hamza Chowdhury, said: “I can’t imagine anyone under 16 saying ‘hey dad can I have £15 to play a sport in a place that used to be free’.”

Justin Hill, head of leisure at the council, said: “This is part of a wider investment that will include new and advanced play areas including a sandpit. Pricing will be more affordable than private courts.” He had added that the new replacement sandpit and facilities would be completed following “further engagement” at the same time or soon after the padel court being introduced.

But after the panel had voted, planning committee chairman Cllr Liam Martin-Lane confirmed: “That has been rejected. The committee has voted against the officer recommendations.”