RESIDENTS living close to a college claim the use of floodlit playing fields into the evening will blight their lives.

Members of the Futures Neighbours Group, who live near to Futures College in Southend, are concerned about the extended use of the new multi-games area being applied for by the college.

They fear the floodlights will disrupt children trying to sleep if they are in use until 10pm.

The college’s application is for use of the games area between 8am and 5pm from Monday to Friday by students only for the first six months. After this, a further detailed application will be submitted to extend the opening hours into evenings and weekends so the area can be used by everyone else.

The college said they made the six-month opening times restriction in response to residents’ concerns and they have also agreed not to use the floodlights until then.

Barbara Black, 73, of Woodgrange Drive, said: “I’m worried the noise could continue into the night along with the bright lights from the floodlights if it opens late into the evening.

“It’s very close to some houses and if children want to go to bed early it could be a problem.

“It will also present some parking problems for residents along Southchurch Boulevard because people already park on the pavements and in some cases across people’s driveways.”

Planning permission was granted in 2008 for the erection of a two -storey building for use as a vocational training centre with a hairdressing academy, a beauty salon and new sports pitches, recreational space, car and cycle parking and landscaping.

However, Ron Woodley, ward councillor for Thorpe Bay, said: “The fence and the floodlights, which are not yet installed, have not got planning permission.

“At the moment the games area is open during school hours, but we are trying to limit the environmental impact on the residents around there and we will be doing what we can to ensure any noise or light pollution will be kept to a minimum.”

Neil Bates, the chief executive of Prospects College, which co-runs Futures, said: “I am disappointed by the attitude of some residents.

“I personally made the time to visit some and, as a result, wrote to them outlining a number of concessions that we would be prepared to make to address their concerns. The new college offers much needed facilities for students and the wider community.”

Mr Bates said the games area is 72m from the nearest houses, which have a railway line boundary 10m high running alongside them so residents cannot see the playing fields from their ground floors.