A HEALTH club has put forward proposals for a new outdoor swimming pool and sauna.

Royal Berkshire Racquet and Health Club, on Nine Mile Ride, has applied to Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) for permission to build a new sauna and pool plant, a new outdoor swimming pool with poolside terrace, an external spa, and an extension to the existing internal spa.

BFC’s planning committee will debate the proposals at a meeting on Thursday August 16, although residents have already put forward their opinions on the plans.

Councillor Sandra Ingham has requested that the application be considered by the committee due to the potential noise impact on neighbouring residents.

Mark Stewart, of Jameston, wrote: “I object to the application for the outdoor pool and kids pool area, my main concern is added high noise levels associated with the operation, daily running and maintenance of the complex.

“We already suffer high noise levels on a daily basis from the Royal Berkshire Health Club. Do we really need another pool complex not more than a few hundred metres from the newly refurbished Coral Reef Swimming complex? 

“Add an outdoor swimming pool area not more than 50 metres from the rear of my property, on top of the 5am starts with the bottle lorries and service deliveries followed by the grunts and noise of the tennis enthusiasts at 6am well into the evenings. Then the floodlights, often left on until the very early morning hours - not easy to sleep when it’s like daylight in your bedroom.”

Simon Groves, of Jameston, Bracknell, wrote: “I’m sat in my garden and all I can hear is tennis balls going backwards and forwards with loud voices, with a outside swimming pool I’m sure this is just going to make more noise which will make it even harder to seat in the garden or even have windows open.”

Anne Crittenden, also of Jameston, wrote: “At the moment two people playing tennis on the courts at the back of our garden can make a lot of noise, with shouting and loud grunting etc. The sound they make also echoes off the buildings and can also be heard in the street at the front of the house. 

“This can happen any time within the opening hours. On numerous times we’ve have had to shut our bedroom windows to block out the noise and can also be very annoying when trying to relax in our garden.”
When consulted on the plans, Bracknell Town Council found no reason to object to the plans. 

Environmental Health also found no objection, but stated that there must be a 2.5m acoustic fence retained, and the hours of operation to be limited.

Bracknell Forest Council is recommended to approve the plans in the planning committee report.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm at the council’s offices in Market Street on Thursday, August 16.

To view the application, visit https://bit.ly/2MJRPVQ and search for application num ber 18/00568/FUL