Green light for school sports centre (From Dudley News)

Green light for school sports centre

2:50pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News

COUNCILLORS have given the go ahead for a new sports hall and astro turf pitches at a Dudley school.

Members of Dudley's development control committee approved an application for the facilities at Holly Hall Academy, Scotts Green Close, despite objections from residents living next to the school.

The committee heard from Keith Hampton a resident of Quentin Drive who told the meeting the new pitches are too close to his home.

Mr Hampton said: "I'm looking for some common sense, we want sports facilities to be developed but I want to bring the reality of the development.

"If you stand at the bottom of my fence in about the length of a bus you will be in a goalmouth where 23 men will be during a match."

Mr Hampton also raised concerns about the pitch being used at night with six ten metre high floodlights which would shine onto his home.

Councillors were told the site has mature trees which act as a boundary to screen noise and light from neighbouring homes and the need for new sports facilities at the school was urgent.

Committee members unanimously voted to approve the proposal with conditions the trees would be protected from removal and the floodlights would not be in use after 9pm.