TORY council chiefs have reversed a decision to grant a lease for a five-a-side football centre at a Southampton school.

They ignored a petition from 650 pupils, about half of Bitterne Park School, and claimed they were responding to serious concerns from residents.

The proposed developer, Play Football, withdrew a planning application in the summer after it attracted 116 letters of objection and two petitions of 215 signatures.

A further 705-name petition against the scheme was submitted at a later public meeting.

Residents said they supported the need for better school sports facilities but were concerned about noise, light pollution, traffic and a proposed late-night sports bar.

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And they told Tory councillor leaders there was no point in granting a lease because the proposed site was in an airport public safety zone, which prohibits development under local and national planning rules.

However, Bitterne Park head teacher Susan Trigger said a revised scheme addressed concerns raised.

But, deputy council leader, Councillor Royston Smith said “significant local disquiet” and opposition had to be acknowledged.

“We should take people’s concerns very seriously and for this reason alone I’m not in favour of granting the lease,” he said.

Cllr Smith, along with fellow Cabinet members Phil Williams, Peter Baillie and Ivan White, had previously objected to the planning applications on behalf of residents.

Labour education spokesman Cllr Matt Stevens, who decided to grant the lease while in office in April, said the facility would have helped the school become “community focused” in line with Government policy. Play Football was unavailable for comment.

Chairman of school governors Anglea Whettingsteel said she was “very disappointed” at the Uturn.

“Unfortunately in all of this it will be the 1,500 students of Bitterne Park School who will lose out by not having what would have been excellent sporting facilities.”