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Frequently Asked Questions
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Will local residents be able to use the facilities?
Yes, all facilities will be available to members of the public. Individuals and local groups can book courts, pitches and the multi-purpose room. The grounds are already being used by various cricket and football clubs, and we’d like to expand this to include local schools. The site will also remain accessible for dog walkers and runners, with pathways around the perimeter.
Who can use the café?
Sandy’s Cafe is designed to welcome the whole community. With indoor and outdoor seating, it will be open to the public year-round, whether you’re walking your dog first thing, entertaining your toddler mid-morning or using the sports facilities after work. Tea, coffee and other drinks, pastries and sandwiches will be served throughout the day.
Are we losing any sports?
No, the existing provision is maintained. The layout of the turf pitches will be improved and the cricket wickets repositioned, with more wickets provided. We’re also adding practice nets. The football pitch area can be marked out for rugby, hockey or smaller pitches for junior matches as required.
Will the facilities be affordable?
We want the facilities to be well used, so it is important they are affordable. We are working with Padel People, who have a strong track record of delivering accessible, affordable and welcoming places to play sport. Founders George Sandbach and James Rock, both from Oxfordshire, are committed to fair pricing, year-round access, and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Will there be increased traffic on narrow roads like Ferry and Edgeway?
Traffic impacts should be minimal, despite more people using the site. Students will be walking, cycling, scooting or taking public transport, and local Marston residents should rarely need to drive to the site. A bollard to restrict access is being installed at the lane extension to Edgeway Road, and a specialist highways consultant has also been engaged.
Will there be enough parking for site users?
In line with Oxford’s sustainable travel priorities, people will be encouraged to visit the site on foot or bike or via the City’s e-scooter scheme. Existing car parking will be maintained but not expanded, apart from the addition of two disabled parking bays. 40 cycle spaces will be added, with a secure cycle store and covered external spaces.
How will the new footpaths and cycleways work?
We’re proposing to create a new footpath, running parallel to the existing public foot/cycle path. This addresses residents’ concerns that the current path is too narrow for cyclists and pedestrians to use safely. Congestion and conflicts will be reduced and low-level lighting will provide additional security.
There will be new gravel footpaths linking the buildings and courts on site, and security lighting for the vehicle track, footpaths and car park. Increased footfall in and around the site will also help to restore a safe atmosphere and deter vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
Will national and international competitions be held at the site?
The facilities are being created to international standard, but this doesn’t imply that there will be international competitions! If requested, the occasional national competition could be considered, but this is not actively sought. The key users of the site are students and local residents.
What flood prevention measures are being taken?
We’re working with a specialist flood consultant and all relevant agencies. The proposed development should not increase flood risk to local properties, and paving and hard surfaces will be permeable to support drainage. Flood risk to the padel tennis canopy will be reduced by locating it on the slightly higher ground of the Hertford site.
Why is the padel tennis canopy so large?
To offer a viable padel facility, at least six padel courts and a practice court are needed. Padel court dimensions are specified by the International Padel Federation and the canopy size is dictated by the requirements of the game, plus the need for circulation, fire escape and maintenance access.
The courts need to be fully enclosed for all-weather use, but retractable panels will control ventilation and open up the building during fine weather. A comprehensive assessment has been undertaken to minimise the canopy’s visual impact. Its lightweight structure, translucent cladding and green tinted sheeting will all help to integrate it with the landscape.
How has accessibility been considered?
Currently the ground floor levels of all the existing buildings are raised to provide flood resilience, and there is only stepped access. This proposal provides ramped access, with the two-storey Hertford squash building completely reconfigured to include a wheelchair accessible lift, stairs designed for ambulant disabled, better access through the building from the entrance, and a wheelchair accessible unisex WC/changing room with shower on the ground floor. The team sport and padel tennis changing rooms will also include shower facilities for ambulant disabled.
Will the floodlights and padel canopy cause light pollution?
Although the site buildings are set away from existing residential properties, we recognise that careful lighting design is essential to avoid any negative impacts on the local community or on wildlife. At the same time, improving lighting at the site is important for people to feel safe and to discourage antisocial behaviour.
The padel centre and footpath will have low-level lighting, and our lighting consultant is working to minimise light spillage from the development, liaising with our landscape architect to ensure appropriate screening. There is potential to enhance the landscape further with additional trees and planting.
How late will the facilities be open in the evening, and what noise levels are expected?
The covered padel courts and golf simulator will be open until 10pm. Since the site buildings are set back from local residences, at a distance of 150 metres from the nearest house, it has been confirmed that any noise from the site will not travel far enough to disturb residents.
How will the development protect local ecology and green space?
We have an ecologist, landscape architect and landscape visual impact consultant working to assess the environmental and visual aspects of the proposal. The site development will improve public access to green space and nature within the city boundary. It will also enhance the existing landscape by extending the wildflower meadow, planting small trees along new footpaths, removing dead trees and planting new ones. We’re aiming to achieve a 20% net gain in biodiversity at the site (double the 10% requirement).
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