UPDATE - May 2022

Wychwoods Tennis Club (WTC) have now submitted appeals against WODC's refusal for both planning application 21/00261/FUL and planning application 21/03836/FUL.

These two appeals have been linked and are currently under consideration by the Planning Inspectorate.

Why these Appeals should be turned down

It is certainly true that floodlighting technology has advanced since the first application back in 1991, but this only makes it (arguably) more suitable for use in towns and cities where there is already a high level of ambient lighting. However, whatever the claimed benefits of ‘modern’ floodlight fittings, and irrespective of the rhetoric concerning light spill etc., the amount of light needed purely to illuminate the area of 2 tennis courts (and to a height of 6m.) in order to meet LTA standards is always going to be far too great for this particular location.
The courts are in a raised and very prominent position within the Shipton under Wychwood Conservation Area, where the installation of floodlighting would be an incongruous and wholly alien urban feature, both by day and by night, failing to conserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, contrary to WOLP Policy EH10.
This proposal will have an impact on a far greater area than the site itself and would cause glare and skyglow visible for many miles, blighting the dark skies which are so much a characteristic of The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, contrary to Policy CE5 ‘Dark Skies’ of the Cotswolds Conservation Board Management Plan. As such this proposal would fail to conserve and enhance the scenic quality of the Cotswolds AONB, contrary to West Oxfordshire Local Plan Policy EH1.
Even by WTC’s own admission the floodlights will impact the AONB and cause harm!

Whilst policy may encourage and protect sports facilities, the benefits to health are generic and overstated in terms of what the floodlighting could reasonably achieve. Playing tennis after dark is not going to cure obesity! Any health benefits accruing to a small number of tennis club members should be weighed against the effects on the mental health and well-being of neighbours, as well as loss of their residential amenity.

It is understandable that there is a ‘desire’ for floodlighting amongst some members of the tennis club (note that many members do not support the proposal), but it certainly is not a ‘pressing need’ as claimed. It can be substantiated from the court booking sheets that the courts are under-utilised, even with a claimed increase in membership, and there is no shortage of alternative facilities locally. The club has no clubhouse and no facilities whatsoever to offer, consisting of only 3 rented tennis courts, making it wholly unsuitable for play after dark when the New Beaconsfield Hall is closed.

Lastly, it is frankly naive to claim, as WTC do, that exceptionally bright and intermittent floodlighting will result in a net biodiversity gain, as required by WOLP Policy EH3. The presence of protected species (bats and great crested newts) just metres from the courts has been recorded and confirmed, as well as an abundance of other wildlife, much of it nocturnal. (See our Wildlife page).

Both Appeals should be therefore be dismissed because: 

Floodlighting in this location would harm the natural beauty of the AONB, contrary to the WOLP and the Cotswolds AONB Dark Skies policy. 
Floodlighting fails to conserve or enhance the Shipton-under-Wychwood Conservation Area.
Floodlighting would cause harm to biodiversity, particularly protected species.

What could floodlighting look like?

The most recent application includes a photo of the proposed lighting as used at Roade Tennis Club, Northampton. (7B 21.7.13 WYCHWOOD TENNIS CLUB TECHNICAL REPORT 20210713). The photo on the left is taken from Roade Tennis Club's website.

IS THIS REALLY WHAT WE WANT IN OUR VILLAGE?

WTC encouraged neighbours to visit Kingston Bagpuize Tennis Club as a good example of what the lighting would look like. The photos below show glare from the lights themselves and light-spill and reflection on the clubhouse, trees and wall some distance from the courts. Although 3 of the 4 courts are floodlit, the 4th court is illuminated enough to play tennis and is often booked. The coach complained about hotspots on the courts and said the club would be applying for higher poles (theirs are 6.5m high). Neighbours said their homes and gardens were completely floodlit and that the glare and reflection had a significant impact on their residential amenity and mental well-being. One neighbour said she had no need to turn her kitchen lights on any more.They are putting in complaints to the club and to Environmental Health.

WTC states 'there is inevitably some harm caused by having lights' and that there will be a 'modest' impact on the AONB and Conservation Area. This is not acceptable!

Are floodlights really needed in Shipton?

Put simply - NO!

WTC has recently inflated its membership to 534 members, 81% of whom do not live in Shipton. 64% do not even live in the Wychwoods. This means that most members are driving in from places which probably have floodlit tennis facilities much nearer than Shipton.

There are many alternative floodlit tennis facilities within a 10 mile radius of Shipton - Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Witney, Bourton on the Water, Moreton-in-Marsh. Many people choose to play at Shipton because of its picturesque location within a rural village, something which WTC seem intent on destroying. Playing tennis at Shipton is a lifestyle choice, not a necessity.

Junior coaching took place at Kingham Hill School over the winter months using portable floodlights. There is also indoor coaching available there, in a warm and dry environment meaning no cancellations due to weather, with toilet facilities and an area for parents to sit and watch. Shipton has no clubhouse, no toilet facilities and parents would need to sit and wait in their cars with the engines running to keep warm. Juniors do not need to be members and there are no figures for their demographics but it can be assumed they will be roughly the same as adult members. The majority will therefore be coming from outside the Wychwoods, for whom driving to Kingham is no different to driving to Shipton. This seems an ideal solution for a few months of the year, in much the same way as the Cricket Club and football clubs have their coaching elsewhere in the winter.

Floodlighting is not a need, it is a luxury, at the expense of this Conservation Area village, the Cotswolds AONB and wildlife.

The Shipton-under-Floodlight campaign is organised by a group of Shipton-under Wychwood residents, some of whom are also Tennis Club members, who feel that protecting our village from light pollution and the urbanisation of the Conservation Area is important.