Bethnal Green Padel Backlash Tops 2,300 Signatures, 2026

Key Points

• Tower Hamlets Council installed a temporary padel court on 10 March 2026 in the centre of one of Bethnal Green Gardens’ multi-sport courts, in partnership with Courtside CIC.
• The padel court covers around 250 square metres, reducing space for rollerskaters, BMX bikers, footballers, basketballers, and skateboarders.
• A petition calling for its removal has exceeded 2,300 signatures, delaying a second court.
• The installation impacts a July family skate day planned as part of Roll On London, the UK’s largest roller skating festival.
• Campaign organiser Adam Clarke described Bethnal Green Gardens as a rare open space for free, informal community use.
• Supporter Afshin Robin R. called it the “epitome of aggressive gentrification” for replacing free activities with pay-to-play elite sports without consultation.
• Local skater Esmé Fenwick, who grew up in Tower Hamlets, called the location choice “nonsensical” due to the park’s role as a community meeting point near the tube station.
• Frequent skater Mellow highlighted the diverse skating community across ages and cultures, now displaced.
• The court is part of a consultation ending in November 2026, but no feedback site exists as of April 2026, and the council has not answered queries on how to contribute.
• Initially free, bookings now cost £24 per hour; a trial of paid sessions runs with limited free slots not yet listed.
• Further courts planned at King Edward Memorial Park; London padel courts up 550% to over 300 in the past year.
• Posters state the court is temporary, but no success criteria or exact end date published.

Bethnal Green (East London Times) April 14, 2026 – Residents in Bethnal Green have launched a strong backlash against Tower Hamlets Council’s installation of a temporary padel court in Bethnal Green Gardens, with a petition surpassing 2,300 signatures.

Why has Tower Hamlets Council installed a padel court in Bethnal Green Gardens?

Bethnal Green Gardens, a key public space in east London, featured two adjacent multi-sport courts until recently. These courts served rollerskaters, BMX bikers, footballers, basketballers, and skateboarders in a shared, informal setting.

On 10 March 2026, Tower Hamlets Council, partnering with Courtside CIC, placed a padel court covering around 250 square metres in the centre of one court. This has shrunk the available space, making it harder for users to share the area.

Skaters report they can no longer complete full laps. With only one full court left, team sports like football or basketball must squeeze into half-sized spaces, forcing other users aside. As reported in coverage by The Slice, the installation has disrupted cohabitation among diverse groups.

What is the impact on local roller skaters and the Roll On London event?

The multi-sport courts hold particular value for the roller skating community. In July 2026, the space was set to host a family skate day during Roll On London, an annual four-day event described as the UK’s largest roller skating festival. Plans now face uncertainty due to the reduced area.

Esmé Fenwick, a Tower Hamlets native and regular skater at Bethnal Green Gardens, described the choice as “nonsensical”. She noted the park’s role as a meeting point for skaters from across London, aided by its proximity to Bethnal Green tube station. Fenwick added:

“The whole thing just feels really pointed and intentional, and there’s so much space across Tower Hamlets that’s free and available nearby that they could have put a flat top surface onto. They could have left us so much more space. It does feel like a very deliberate move in order to discourage skaters from skating.”

Mellow, another frequent skater, said:

“I think they don’t realise how diverse the skating community is. There are so many ages and cultures. It’s like they’re displacing a very diverse community just looking for places to skate.”

Mellow also noted:

“We’re already cohabiting, but now there’s very little left to cohabit.”

Many park users stress the space’s community role beyond sport. As detailed in The Slice reporting, these views echo widely among those affected.

Who is leading the campaign against the padel court?

A petition demanding removal has topped 2,300 signatures, achieving a delay in a second court’s arrival. Campaign organiser Adam Clarke stated:

“Bethnal Green Gardens is a rare open space in London that supports free, informal community use.”

Supporter Afshin Robin R. remarked:

“Replacing a free, grassroots outlet with pay-to-play ‘elite’ sports – without local consultation – is the epitome of aggressive gentrification.”

These statements, as covered by The Slice, capture resident frustration.

How has Tower Hamlets Council responded to the backlash?

The council describes the court as temporary, with on-site posters noting removal at the end of a consultation period in November 2026. A council spokesperson said:

“We appreciate people will have different views, which is exactly why we are listening as part of our consultation.”

As of April 2026, no feedback form appears on the Tower Hamlets Council website. When The Slice queried the council on the site’s launch and interim contribution methods, no response was provided. The council has not published success criteria for the trial or a precise end date beyond November 2026.

Initially free, the court now requires online bookings at £24 per hour. A council spokesperson confirmed a “trial of a paid padel programme” is underway, with limited free sessions expected alongside paid ones. However, free slots have not yet appeared on the booking site.

What are the broader plans for padel courts in Tower Hamlets and London?

Further padel courts are planned in the borough, including two at King Edward Memorial Park as part of a regeneration project. Across London, padel courts have increased by more than 550% in the past year, reaching over 300.

For now, the Bethnal Green Gardens court remains during the consultation. Residents continue to press for its removal and clearer engagement processes.

Background of the Development

Bethnal Green Gardens has long served as a vital green space in the densely populated Tower Hamlets borough. The multi-sport courts emerged as a hub for informal recreation, accommodating a range of activities without charge. Padel, a racket sport blending tennis and squash, has surged in popularity in the UK, prompting councils to expand facilities.

Tower Hamlets Council’s partnership with Courtside CIC reflects this trend, aiming to trial the sport in public spaces. The March 2026 installation marks the first such effort in Bethnal Green Gardens, amid rising padel infrastructure borough-wide. Prior to this, the gardens hosted community events like skate sessions, underscoring their role in free access recreation. The consultation framework, set to run until November 2026, stems from council efforts to gauge demand, though implementation details have drawn scrutiny.

Predictions: How This Development Can Affect Bethnal Green Residents

This development can reduce available space for free multi-sport activities in Bethnal Green Gardens, potentially limiting access for rollerskaters, BMX riders, footballers, basketballers, and skateboarders who rely on the full courts. With the padel court occupying 250 square metres, remaining users may face overcrowding, altering shared use patterns. The £24 hourly fee for padel could shift the space toward paid activities, impacting lower-income residents who use it for informal, cost-free recreation.

Delays to events like the Roll On London family skate day may disrupt community gatherings, particularly for diverse skating groups. If further courts proceed without adjustments, similar pressures could extend to other Tower Hamlets parks, affecting local sports access. Outcomes hinge on consultation results; sustained resident input might lead to relocation or removal, preserving multi-use space, while low feedback could solidify padel presence, prioritising emerging sports over established community practices.