AMERY Hill School is to have its artificial turf pitch.

The highly controversial application has been given the go ahead by Hampshire County Council, despite fierce opposition from local residents.

They are concerned about the impact on their quality of life from use of a pitch which will butt onto residential properties at Greenfields Avenue in the north and Steeple Drive and The Cloisters to the south.

Having joined forces to form a Local ResidentsÕ Action Group, they fought a weighty and sustained battle throughout the planning process, managing to extract a compromise which should, it is hoped, appease all parties.

For pupils at the school the pitch will open up opportunities for a wide variety of school game activities, as well as after-school hockey matches, and hockey for Alton College and Alton Hockey Club.

According to Amery Hill headteacher Stephen Crabtree, with around 1,000 pupils on the school roll, the ATP is urgently needed to supplement existing PE facilities.

Having won first the battle to secure the withdrawal of floodlights from the application, the residents were relieved when county councillors, at last weekÕs regulatory committee meeting, agreed to set time limits on the use of the pitch.

Permission was eventually granted as follows: 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday; 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday, except for 14 Saturdays in the year when it can be used until 6 pm. No use on Sundays.

ResidentsÕ action group member Janet Ford said: ÒWithout the 250 plus letters of objection sent to East Hampshire District Council and the impressive turnout at council meetings we would have had little or no success. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the campaign - their support was vital.Ó

While hoping that residents would feel Òreasonably happyÓ with the result of the campaign, Mrs Ford adds her best wishes to the school on its success in gaining planning permission for the ATP.

ÒWe hope that the pupils of Amery Hill School will enjoy their new facility,Ó she said.