A South London tennis club battling to open earlier and shut later is facing fierce backlash from locals who fear the sports venue will become a “nightclub” if the plans go ahead.  

A petition against plans from Magdalen Park Lawn Tennis Club in Wandsworth to extend the hours it could play music and sell alcohol was signed by 114 people.

The club has applied to Wandsworth Council to change its opening hours from 6pm to 11.30am every day, and to shut at midnight instead of 11pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

Wandsworth Times: Magdalen Park Lawn Tennis Club sits on a residential street (photo: Local Democracy Reporting Service)Magdalen Park Lawn Tennis Club sits on a residential street (photo: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The changes would allow members “more choice to enjoy the premises, whilst watching tennis, sport on TV and enjoy tournaments” which may end at 10pm, the club said in licensing documents.

But the plans have been met with fury from locals, with more than 40 objections lodged with the council.

Councillor Maurice McLeod told Wandsworth Council’s licensing sub-committee on Tuesday night it was “rare to see quite so many residents complain about a proposal”. 

Councillor Rosemary Birchall said she had been contacted by locals who are “without exception” opposed to the extension.

She said: “With the best will in the world, the bar staff find it difficult to keep the volume down, keep members inside after 10pm and the windows closed so it is the neighbours who suffer.

“I have spoken to relatives of a terminally-ill lady who struggle to cope with the thudding of the music.

"Key workers have their sleep frequently disturbed […] before an early shift.

"All residents are affected by the noise from the club – be they young or old.”

She later added that the extended hours for music and alcohol would turn the local tennis club “into a nightclub”. 

A key worker who lives on Strickland Row but did not give his name told the licensing committee: “I vehemently object to this extension.

"It affects us as a family. I’m a key worker myself, I need my sleep. My children need sleep. It affects the community.”

He added: “We just want to sleep.

"I moved to Earlsfield because it’s a quiet area, it’s a residential area. Why do we need a nightclub right next door to where we live?”

Penny Sloman, operations manager at the club, said the application is “more for the earlier opening”.

She said the club had recently employed a full-time bar manager for the first time, meaning there was “a very responsible local member of the community now running the bar”. 

She said: “We are a community club, we are aware of our neighbours and we make every effort for people to leave quietly.

"We believe our new manager has really got the staff trained well and we, as a board, we’re volunteers but we have a very responsible attitude towards this.”

Dominic Adams, facilities manager, said Saturday nights were usually the club’s “quietest night”.

Ms Sloman added: “I’m very very sorry for anyone who’s affected by the noise of the tennis club, you know, it’s the last thing that we would want to cause trouble for people and I can assure you, you know, particularly as an older member of the board, I am a little bit shocked at all the accusations.”

She said the club would bring up engagement with locals at the next board meeting. 

The club has applied to play recorded music and sell alcohol from 11.30am to 11pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11.30am to 12am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and 11.30am to 10pm on Sundays.

The club already has permission to play music and sell alcohol between 6pm and 11pm on most days.

Wandsworth Council’s licensing committee will make their decision in the coming days.