NAILSEA School has lodged an appeal after it was refused permission to extend the operating hours of its all-weather pitch.

In June, a North Somerset Council planning committee opposed increasing the usage by up to 12 hours per week after neighbours complained of glare from floodlights, excessive noise and swearing from players using the pitch.

The site, constructed in 2008 when the Mizzymead Road school was rebuilt, is currently not open as long as other all-weather pitches at Clevedon and Gordano schools. An extension of opening hours would have allowed an extra 200 sportsmen to use the pitch each week.

The school currently has a waiting list of teams wanting to use the facilities and is having to turn away rugby and football clubs wanting to train on the pitch on five Sunday afternoons a year.

At the time of the decision, headteacher David New said he was ‘amazed’ the councillors on the committee had gone against Government aims of increasing exercise among young people.

The school has now lodged an official appeal against the refusal.