A secondary school is building a skatepark in its grounds in what will be a UK first - despite "major concerns" from neighbours.

Folkestone Academy has been given the green light for the facility on its campus near Park Farm Industrial Estate.

Opponents say the scheme gives “no consideration” to residents living nearby, but teachers say it will be a “fantastic asset”.

Earlier this year, Turner Schools - the trust which runs Folkestone Academy - asked Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) for permission to build a shallow bowl, two small ramps, a rail, a ledge and seating.

Construction of the park was approved by FHDC planning chiefs in July, with the decision notice detailing the facility can open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, both in and out of term time.

It cannot open on Sundays, but can be used on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

Work on the facility is already underway, and teachers hope it will open this month.

But neighbours Emma and Kevin Black, who have lived in the area for 20 years, shared their worries over the plan in May.

"We believe the application is good use of the ground but have major concerns and issues in regards to the noise, light levels and toilet facilities,” they said.

“As residents we are not opposed to the noise during the school term time and daily timing of the school, which we have accepted when the school was built at the back of us.

“What does concern us is the timing of opening hours for weekends and outside of term time, which we are not happy with.”

Neighbour Alanah Funnell echoed similar sentiments, saying she is "no stranger to the day to day ‘noise’ of the school”.

“Something I have no issue with during normal term time," she said.

"My issues are the opening hours proposed for weekends and outside of term time which I am not happy with.”

Originally, the plan was to open the park until 9.30pm every night, and 9am to 3pm on Sundays and holidays, with it only open to non-pupils outside of school hours.

However FHDC planners reduced the hours when granting permission “in the interests of residential amenity".

The school says the development has been made possible by a donation from Sir Roger De Haan’s Friends of Folkestone Academy and is supported by Sports England.

Billionaire philanthropist Sir Roger also helped fund F51 - the world’s first multi-storey skatepark - which opened in the town in April 2022.

Principal Steven Shaw previously said his pupils are “keen skaters, with many choosing to travel to school by skateboard and scooter".

The extreme sport is already taught at the academy, and once open the skatepark will be used for supervised sessions during PE classes, during lunchtime and after school, and will also be open to non-students outside school time.

The school also separately applied for permission for a bike track near the skatepark, but this has been rejected by FHDC.

A spokesman confirmed bosses are looking at altering the bike track plans before submitting a new application.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

In a statement, Seamus Murphy, CEO of Turner Schools, said: “The skatepark will be a fantastic asset for both Folkestone Academy and the wider community.

“Folkestone is becoming a centre for world-class skating and we are looking forward to playing a part in supporting that.

“Many of our young people are keen skaters and this superb resource will provide them with the space and support to explore the many benefits of skating.”