FLOODLIGHTING of a third court for Wellington Tennis Club has been given planning permission despite earlier promises to only allow play during the day.

But the six new floodlights will have to be turned off by 9pm after planners listened to town councillors’ concerns that the homes of nearby residents could be affected by light pollution.

Sport England has funded the 23 feet high lights with a £30,000 sports facility improvement grant while the £59,000 third court received a £15,000 district council grant and £6,500 from the town council. The extra tennis court was needed because of the pressure of use from the club’s growing 100-plus membership on its existing two courts, which are now 20 years old.

But residents in Court Drive objected to the floodlighting plans and pointed to promises by the club that the new tennis court would not be lit.

Nicholas Pomfrett said: “Court Drive is a quiet residential area, and over the last few years we have seen increased problems with parking and inconsideration for the people who live here from some club members and their families.

“The new court has been added, to our disappointment and our inconvenience. The last thing we need is for the thing to be lit up like a Christmas tree, especially when so close to my home and when that was never in the original plan.”

But tennis club chairman Sue Rackley said of the objectors: “The flats have very bright lights along the path of the flats which are glaring while we play and I would imagine these would shine in more to their kitchens and bedrooms than the tennis lights.

“We live with street, shop sign and garage lights everywhere. Tennis court lights are positioned to shine down towards the courts, not up. Improving a popular sports club should be applauded in this rapidly expanding town.”

District council planning officer Denise Todd said although the 2016 plans had stated no floodlighting, it did not preclude the club from now applying for lights.