Plans to develop an all-weather hockey pitch outside a school have run into opposition from nearby residents.

A group of householders voiced their objections to the proposals for Holy Family Catholic School, Keighley, at the latest full meeting of Keighley Town Council. Speaking on behalf of these residents, Claire Abberton said the site identified for the new pitch would be on land immediately next to Spring Gardens Lane.

She pointed out that this open site already consists of a raised plateau, and if the proposals are approved it would be raised further by another 2.5 metres with a 4.5-metre high fence on top of that and 15-metre high outdoor lighting columns erected.

“Right now the plateau is already level with the first floor of houses on Spring Gardens Lane,” she warned. “So the new development will dwarf the houses on the north side of Spring Gardens Lane. We’ll have no privacy at all – none.

“It would not be justified to grant permission for this.”

Miss Abberton also expressed concern about potential impact on wildlife such as bats, owls and kestrels and about the proposals to have a licensed clubhouse on the site, which forms part of the same application.

“They want to have alcohol on the premises, and we don’t really relish that either,” she added.

“Another thing we find quite incomprehensible is that Holy Family already has an all-weather pitch on the other side of the school. They say it’s not viable to have this new hockey pitch there, but we want to know why.”

Holy Family has not yet responded to the comments made by Miss Abberton at the town council meeting. The school has previously explained its plans were drawn up in co-operation with Airedale Hockey Club and SportKeighley. Holy Family said its intended new facilities would be of a “tremendous benefit to the leisure and health aspects of the wider community.”