residents are up in arms and plotting a campaign to stop a £450,000 all-weather sports pitch being built on their doorsteps. Churcher's College wants to build the new sports facility backing onto Shear Hill off London Road in Petersfield. But earlier this month more than 30 residents attended a meeting organised by headmaster Simon Williams, expressing grave concerns about: l light pollution from eight 40 ft high floodlight towers; l community use at night; l possible security problems; l noise pollution; l added litter; l "partisan" support for the scheme from town leaders. The school has already earmarked funds for the pitch and developers hope to submit planning permission in the next two months. And Mr Williams is hopeful a partnership can be arranged between the school and Petersfield Hockey Club, which would mean two extra evening sessions a week from 6 pm to 9 pm. But some fear the all-weather pitch, which would double up as tennis courts, could end up being an "intrusive eyesore". One resident, who lives near the proposed site, said neighbours were now planning a a meeting to voice their objections. Jean Mallows said: "The meeting was not what the headmaster had expected. "My husband was one of the people who sold the land some years ago. The suggestion was always that the land would be for an AWP [all weather pitch]. But it was never mentioned it would be for anything other than the school. And there was no question of floodlighting. We do feel Mr Williams has moved the goalposts. "We think it would be very intrusive. There is inevitably going to be noise - it is one thing to put up with noise during term time, but he is talking about a quite different ball game. "For a start we shall be writing to the governors of the school and we will be having some discussions beforehand with a view to possibly forming a campaign. We have already been talking together." Mrs Mallows said it was announced at the meeting that town mayor Vaughan Clarke was supporting the principle of the scheme - a move she considered "partisan". "We were upset Mr Williams had drummed up the support of the mayor. I don't think the mayor should give partisan support," she said. Another resident, Janice Cotton, whose garden backs on to the plot of land, added: "It was mentioned at the meeting that Mr Clarke and council leader Andrew Pattie had given their approval. I would assume that would rule them out of any planning decision. "I think it caused concern that members of the town council and EHDC had been informed about this before the residents." In response, town mayor Vaughan Clarke said he supported the idea of sports advancement in the town, but stressed he had no eventual say in whether plans would be approved as he was not part of a planning committee. And headmaster Simon Williams told The Herald the school would subject itself to a series of "self imposed restrictions" when submitting plans for any new development. "We would use the light specification for a national park, which is one lux of light. Sunlight is 100,000 lux, which gives some idea of light pollution," said Mr Williams. "There were 30 people at the meeting. I was surprised at that reaction. "By the end of the meeting two thirds of the people were very happy and grateful. But four people have since voiced their unhappiness, three of those quite strongly. "Their main concern is to do with community use. "All schools have an active part to play in the community and vice versa. But this is a project solely funded by us. "Andrew Pattie was aware of this development. I think because of that people thought it was a fait accompli, but we haven't even submitted planning permission. "They have every right to object and I can understand their concern." He said the proposed pitch would be below the hedge line of neighbouring houses to ensure "minimum impact on the view of the South Downs." "We would even paint the astro turf light stands green. We have a beautiful site here and the last thing we want to do is have a blot on the landscape."