A CHURCH tennis club has been given the green light to install floodlights at its courts despite complaints from neighbours.

Leigh Road Baptist Church Tennis Club has three courts to the rear of Crosby Road, Chalkwell.

The club applied for permission to install 12 poles bearing 18 LED floodlights in the courts and were given approval at a development control meeting yesterday.

The lights will be used between 4pm to 10pm Monday to Saturday and until 6pm on Sunday, with the maximum hours used between November and February.

Two letters of objection and one in support of the application were submitted to the council. Concerns included noise and disturbance and one resident said the light would stream into her bungalow.

However, residents in Crosby Road supported the plan as “it could increase the security of the area against the many undesirables who often frequent Victory Path”.

Addressing councillors, Catherine Crow, said: “I am a resident at one of the bungalows backing on to the tennis club and I strongly object to this application. The height of the lights at 6 metres are going to have a detrimental impact on the outlook from our bungalow and garden. The light will also be very close to our property meaning we will be impacted by light pollution every day of the week.

“There is naturally considerable noise generated at the tennis club and 10pm is way too late to have noise and disruption six days a week.”

Simon Joyce, chairman of the club, defended the application to councillors. He said: “Leigh Road Baptist Church Tennis Club was formed in 1948 and is very much a family orientated club. The last couple of years have been very successful, with membership doubling. The coaching of youngsters has particularly thrived and last night we had 40 children attending coaching from 4pm until 7pm.

“At the moment we have to inconvenience one of our neighbouring clubs by using their one floodlit court.

“ The lighting wouldn’t cause any intrusion into neighbouring properties and would be directly on to the court.

“I spoke to five residents in Crosby Road who were generally in favour as it could increase the security of the area at night against the many undesirables who often frequent Victory Path.”

Councillors backed the plan.