Tennis boom in Bordesholm: 150 trees should fall for expansion!

Tennis boom in Bordesholm: 150 trees should fall for expansion!

The tennis club Bordesholm faces a difficult situation because planned extensions of the tennis facility encounter massive resistance from residents and the environmental committee. The club, which was founded in September 1967, has almost doubled the number of 257 to 383 in the past three years. This development is attributed to successful young training by Kay Bonde, the chairman of the club. However, the capacity limits of the system have now been reached.

In order to meet the requirements of the German Tennis Association (DTB) and optimize training conditions, the club has asked for a preliminary question. Specifically, the tennis club plans to enlarge the system by two outdoor spaces and two indoor play fields. But for this project, about 150 trees, including somewhat thick specimens up to 20 meters, would have to be cut down in an adjacent, legally protected biotope. [KN-Online] reports that the residents have protested with a collection of 52 names in view of these plans.

resistance of the residents

The main concerns of the residents concern the expected increase in traffic loads and the noise emissions that could arise from tennis. The trees in the biotope also act as natural noise protection to the nearby railway line. Mayor Ronald Büssow (SPD) has already been looking for a conversation with the residents and the tennis club, but recognizes the deep trenches between the positions. He suggests that the tennis club should check alternative areas for the expansion without being able to use financial support from the municipality.

The environmental committee unanimously rejected the expansion of the club because the interference in the protected biotope is considered problematic. Carola Ketelhodt, chair of the environmental committee, has made it clear that due to the protected animal and plant species, implementation in the existing biotope is categorically excluded. The area is defined as a biotope in the cadastre and need special protection.

The context of the tennis boom

The tennis boom from which the tennis club Bordesholm benefits is part of a larger trend in German tennis. tennis.de reports of a significant increase in membership in German tennis clubs since the foundation of the German Tennis Association in 1902. In the 1980s, the number of club members in the federal territory was already rapid 6,100 tennis clubs. In recent years, the number of members has increased again, which is also reflected in the constant increase in the number of teams in the tennis club Bordesholm.

The current challenges that the tennis club Bordesholm experiences should not be underestimated. The urgent questions regarding environmental protection and residents' interests are in strong contrast to the club's wish to expand its capacities to promote sport.