Neighbours of a grammar school say they are worried their homes will be invaded by loud noises and bright lights if plans for a new pitch are allowed to go ahead.

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School in Canterbury has secured funding from the FA’s Football Foundation for a 3G field.

The artificial grass facility, which could be open from 8am until 10pm, will be surrounded by a spectator area and six 15m tall lighting columns.

But some residents fear the proposed flood-lighting will shine into their homes and the noise from games will reach their gardens.

Michael Robinson, who lives in Nackington Road, said: “The hours of use are quite ridiculous, 14 hours a day. That means even in the summer the lights will need to be on.

“The use should be limited at weekends and on bank holidays so that we are able to use our gardens. Ten o’clock at night is just too late, it’s as simple as that really. It’s too noisy and it’s open too long.”

Another point of contention is the potential commercial use of the pitch, including suggestions it will be the home stadium of Canterbury Eagles FC.

The school held an information evening about the plans but many residents bosses were not prepared to take their feedback on board.

Another Nackington Road resident, Pamela Dagwell, said: “It’s all right if it’s for the youngsters but I am worried about the evenings and I’m not sure about it being used by adult teams.

She added: “It’ll be all right when the leaves are on the trees. In the plans they talked about the trees being a barrier but the trees only have leaves on in the summer.

“When they want to use the lights it will presumably be dark, which will be a lot more often in the winter.”

Mel Dawkins, KCC councillor for Canterbury City South, says she feels conflicted as she wants to support the school to make the best use of the funding it has received while also needing to represent the views of local residents.

She said: “I understand the residents’ concerns but I’m totally excited as well. I know the school's worked hard to get the funding. I know a number of the residents feel the same.

“The issue is the location of it and the fact the pitch will have a commercial aspect too. The Canterbury Eagles would be using the site and I know residents are worried about what that will mean for them.

Ms Dawkins went on: “I don’t want to stop the pitch from going ahead but I’ve got to represent the residents as well so I’m in a difficult position. Perhaps they could do the pitch without the flood lighting."

“I think it’s going to be a hard one, I’m just glad I’m not on the planning committee so I don’t have to make the decision.”

Neighbours are familiar with construction activity at the site after the 18-month multi-million-pound rebuild of the school that was completed last year.

But not all locals are against the proposal.

Sean Riley of The Foreland thinks the pitch represents a great opportunity.

He explained: “I think it’s a good thing, it’s adding value to the school.

“We’re probably one of the closest houses and the centre of the 3G pitch won’t be far from us, so that light will be quite bright. But I don’t imagine they are even going to be half the size of the lights that the cricket ground has so there is so much light pollution anyway.”

Simon Langton Girls’ head teacher, Paul Pollard, added: “Our application to the Football Foundation for a 3G pitch is rooted in our desire to support the development of the sport for generations of young women, but also to provide a facility that the wider community can benefit from.

“We have been commended on the female focus of our application, and its desire to level-up access to high quality facilities for girls and women, both during the school day and beyond.

“Whilst we would obviously use the facility for football, it would also provide an exceptional surface for a range of other sports, particularly through the winter months when use of our field is often not possible.

“We are aware of concerns that have been raised regarding our application and have listened to [concerns regarding our application] through the KCC public consultation and an information event held recently at the school.

“The design and planning team have worked to mitigate for light and sound within the plans, ensuring they comply with planning guidance and, should our application be successful, we would have clear steps and procedures in place to deal with concerns.”

He added: “Young women first used our field for sports in the 1930s, 20 years before we moved fully onto the site.

“This application is our chance to create a facility that will continue to support both our students and the wider community for decades to come.”