Residents in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, protest a newly built tennis dome, calling it an eyesore and disruptive to the area.
The dome is bright green and has patchwork decoration. The sports club built it last October, and residents want it gone now. One man called it “an enormous zit.”
Keith Hughes lives next to the dome, and says the fan noise keeps him up. He said that they didn’t think about the area’s history, as Stockbridge is near Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The Old Town is a special World Heritage Site. Hughes started a petition to have the dome removed, and over 500 people signed it so far. He thinks that the developers should be ashamed.
Hughes compared the dome to the old cricket pavilion, which has been there since 1892. He thinks the dome is ugly, and asks how they got permission.
Another person, Kenris MacLeod, called it a “horrible blot”. She said it harms people and wildlife, and thinks money is more important than mental health. Some people think the dome is very ugly.
Stockbridge is on the Water of Leith and became a conservation area in 2013. It has nice buildings and parks, yet the city voted against the dome initially.
The Scottish Government later approved the dome, saying the city needed the tennis space. One person, who deals with planning appeals, made the decision for the government.
The government told the BBC they made the decision properly. They considered all opinions before deciding, including opinions from the local community.