Save Our Sandpit campaigners say the free-to-use space in Cantelowes Gardens should not be replaced by a pay-to-play Padel sports court

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COUNCILLORS are to decide whether a padel sports court should be built on a children’s sandpit after the plan was lodged at the Town Hall.

Parents say their children will be losing a fun-packed and free-to-use space in Cantelowes Gardens in favour of a pay-to-play-only facility.

Padel – a fun and easy-to-play version of tennis – is the fastest growing sport in the country, according to the council’s application to itself.

Save Our Sandpit campaign chief Andrew Deans, who lives next to the gardens on Cantelowes Road, said: “The padel court is clearly a cash cow for Camden Council. It is a classic example of the insidious practice of commercialisation of our green parks and public spaces, which are being monetised bit by bit, when they should be free to use.”

He added: “Camden is Council hellbent on pushing the padel court planning through in spite of considerable local opposition.”

The council says it is committed to building a replacement sandpit somewhere else in the park – but there is no other information than that or design proposals included in its application.

The current sandpit was introduced in Cantelowes Gardens in 2008 during a £1.5million redevelopment of the space that included football pitches and a new skate park.

It was designed by architects with a fictional storyline to inspire children to get interested in science and space exploration.

A 60-tonne Cornish granite boulder was brought in to replicate a meteorite having smashed into the ground, thus creating the sand crater.

Buckets of objections have already been submitted by residents in Camden Square and also Kentish Town South wards – with just a year to go before the next council elections.

An objection from Camilla Wilkinson, of Bartholomew Road, said: “The picnic benches and sandpit are well used by the local communities that don’t have gardens.

“The construction of the court will be very carbon intensive and only a limited number of wealthy people will be able to play. In her objection, Susanne Griffiths of Marquis Road, said: “Not a good idea to have a padel court instead of a free sandpit and family picnic area. Why do the council think that this is a good idea?” The Lawn Tennis Association has backed the plans in a letter of support.

John Golding, its head of delivery, said: “The current demand for the sport indicates that there is need for increased provision. The additional playing hours created by the new facilities would allow an increased number of people from the local community to enjoy the game of padel in line with the LTA’s Strategy.”

The letter added that capital funding was not guaranteed by the LTA, which is funding similar projects across the UK.

The council had a consultation that it said had found 50.5 per cent of people responding were in favour of the padel court on a children’s sandpit scheme.

A council statement said: “We recognise that introducing this new court would mean other areas would become smaller, which is why we are proposing to enhance the remaining sandpit and meadow – bringing in replacement trees and a new hedgerow – so families can continue to enjoy the area. We’re still in an early stage of this process and want to get this right for everybody.”

Comments can be made until April 21.