A GROUP of Petersfield residents is drawing up battle plans as they fight to stop a controversial artificial turf pitch from being built on their doorsteps.

Homeowners in Shear Hill and Ramshill have been meeting regularly as they attempt to scupper a Churcher's College plan to build an all-weather pitch (ATP) just yards from their back gardens.

But the campaign received an early blow this week when Petersfield town councillors supported the £400,000 plan at a committee meeting.

An application was submitted last week for a state-of-the-art ATP backing onto Shear Hill at the rear of the school's estate. The pitch would also cater for the town's hockey club.

But the "Neighbours Of Churcher's College" are planning to bombard the planning department at East Hampshire District Council with letters of objection to make their case heard.

They fear light and noise pollution from late- night "community use" would spill out into their gardens.

And they say they are bewildered about why the college is not building the facility at Penns Place, where, they claim, the school has planning permission for such a development.

This week action group spokesman Joe Wheeler told The Herald that the enormous 13- metre-high lighting columns would tower above their houses.

He said: "The objectors claim that the site is too small and does not comply with the National Playing Fields standard.

"Further, no matter how the lights are shielded there will still be light pollution and light spillage into neighbouring gardens.

"With adult competitive matches being played outside normal hours, noise from supporters and players will undoubtedly create a major nuisance.

"The principal objection regards the detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the town by the construction of enormous lighting columns.

"The tallest lighting standards on our local highways are eight metres high. The proposed standards are 13 metres high - more than half as tall again.

"These poles would tower above houses and trees and be clearly visible over a wide area of the town and even as far as Butser Hill."

Mr Wheeler said he also feared the pitch would be a threat to the environment.

"There is also a substantial bat and badger population in the houses and boundary hedges of Ramshill and Shear Hill, which would be seriously affected by the proposed lights," he said.

"The neighbours understand and applaud the desire of Churcher's to build an all-weather pitch, but ask why site it where it would impact detrimentally on the visual amenity of Petersfield when they own a very large tract of land at Penns Place and already have planning permission for sports pitches and changing rooms there?

"Surely this is the obvious place for an all- weather pitch for multiple use by the community and in line with EHDC's proposal to create a "Centre of Sporting Excellence" there.

"The action group are calling on all residents of Ramshill, Shear Hill, Love Lane, Merryfield Road, Churchfield Road, Kingsfernsden Lane, Broadlands, Barentin Way, Hoggarth Close and Moggs Mead to join in protesting at this proposed unsightly intrusion."

Despite the outcry, town councillors backed the scheme at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday.

Chairman Paul Molloy said it was a "lovely plan" that would do a "world of good".

He added that residents living next to schools should expect the kind of noise generated by schooling activities.

He said: "The houses are built close to the school and always have noise from kids.

And Bob Ayer said the school could not wait for a new facility, but that members should consider the concerns of neighbouring home owners.

Mr Ayer told the meeting: "The school cannot wait. This is not their preferred plan. They would much prefer to build it on the football pitch.

"Already there are a lot of residents' concerns. I think members may want to look at the intended hours.

"The issues are obvious. The lighting and the proximity of the pitch - with spectators - to the houses.

And George Watkinson added: "They want something now. You can't just wait on the off- chance it is going to be built.

"But I think the school must be tied closely to its hours. Personally, I have got no objection providing the conditions are such that the hours are no greater than those requested by the school."

Funding is already in place for the ATP, and headmaster Simon Williams says if all goes to plan, the pitch will be unveiled next September.

And this week he moved to reassure residents that the school would be considerate of its surroundings.

He told The Herald: "I can completely understand why they don't want a pitch there. We have chosen the one site which has the least impact.

"When I met with residents in September, the majority were reassured and very grateful for the consultation.

"I was able to explain to them what self- imposed restrictions we would place on ourselves."

He said floodlights would need to be added regardless of whether or not the facility would be used for community use, as pupils would still need to use it in the winter, when it was dark earlier in the evening.

And he added his preferred site would still be at the town's football club, but that it was unlikely a deal could be struck in the near future.