A FOOTBALL club has had plans to keep its fences approved to prevent balls flying into two major roads.

Academy Soccer, which claims the fences have cost £11,000, applied for permission retrospectively after neighbours complained about the appearance of their fencing - which surrounds land between the A129 and A130 in Rawreth.

The club, based in Websters Way, Rayleigh, used second hand telegraph poles and netting to make the safety fence after advice from Highways England that metal poles would not be sufficient.

Members of Rochford District Council’s development control committee voted to approve the fences - despite objections from ward councillor Chris Stanley. He felt that, at 8.3m high, the fencing was too tall.

He said: “The people that live there have to look at them every day. That’s 365 days a year.

“I believe if we reduced the height to 6.5m they would be less visible to the neighbouring properties.”