Councillors lined up to criticise plans for a housing development on tennis courts amid claims they were run down so they could be sold off for housing.

Proposals to build eight houses on two courts belonging to Templars Lawn Tennis Club on St Andrew’s Road, Golders Green, were recommended for approval by Barnet Council’s planning officers.

The applicant, North West London Properties, pledged to retain three of the tennis courts and turn one of them into a ‘multi-use games area’, as well as putting £75,000 towards tennis facilities at Princes Park and Lyttelton Playing Fields.

But at a meeting of Finchley and Golders Green area planning committee yesterday (Tuesday, November 13) neighbours claimed the club had been “deliberately run down”.

Pamela Green, who lives on St Andrews Road, said that the club’s 1955 articles of association prevented members from profiting from its sale.

But she told the meeting that at an annual general meeting in November 2016, the articles were changed so members – most of whom did not live locally – could cash in if the club was sold off.

She said: “Over a number of years (people) have tried quite a few times to join (the club). They were fobbed off with ‘your tennis skills are not good enough’, and it was dropped.

“People just gave up, and they were quite upset about it. Great efforts were made, but it was quite run down.”

A spokesman for the applicant told the meeting: “This was a private members club, and there was a competency test that prospective members had to pass to gain membership.

“There has been some conjecture about membership being restricted. Membership to the club, as we understand it from the chairman, was not restricted.”

He claimed members had voted to sell the club because “dwindling membership numbers had made the club financially unsustainable”.

The spokesman said the developer would upgrade the sports facilities at the site and this would encourage more people to take up sport.

He also claimed tennis was in decline and the multi-use games area would help boost participation in sport.

But committee members were sceptical of the applicant’s claims.

John Marshall, Conservative member for Garden Suburb, said: “I think there is a bit of a smell about this development.

“The impression seems to be quite clear – that the club has been run down, and those running it down were probably more than a mite aware they would be getting a bit of dosh at the end of the day.”

Cllr Marshall described the £75,000 pledge towards tennis facilities elsewhere as “a disgraceful offer”.

He said: “This site should be used for community tennis and community sport, and these developers couldn’t care a damn.”

Cllr Shimon Ryde, Conservative member for Childs Hill, added: “For the developer to say tennis is not popular in this area is ridiculous. The tennis clubs and tennis courts on the public parks are always busy.

“This is a much-valued site that has been run down.”

Committee members voted unanimously to reject the plans.