DOZENS of residents backed a campaign to try and stop a £600,000 renovation of a college's sports facilities.

More than 50 people voiced their opinions after an application to create a new 3G pitch at Itchen College was submitted last week.

Concerns include noise, traffic and light pollution, which they believe will come if the proposal is approved by Southampton City Council.

It was the inaugural meeting of the Itchen Local Residents Group, which hopes to highlight problems it sees within plans, when it met at the Robin Hood Pub.

If successful, a new type of astroturf pitch will replace the current grass pitch, as well as associated fencing, six flood lights and storage containers.

The aim is to allow sports to be played in all weathers, with the facilities opened up to the community.

But Emily Bridges, co-founder of Itchen Local Residents Group, feels that with additional people using the facilities, issues will be caused for locals.

The 35-year-old said: "Residents are quite furious about the plans and we're urging people to share their objections on the plan online.

"The main issue is with noise. Most agree that we do have to put up with some disturbances because we are close to the college, but with people using the facilities outdoors on the evenings and weekends, there will be no respite for us.

"Traffic, which is already an issue, will get worse and we are really concerned about what would happen if this was approved."

As part of the plan, the pitches could be used by the public from 6pm and 10pm on weekdays, as well as 9am and 10pm on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

The project will be jointly funded by the college and a £355,000 grant that was awarded to it as part of the Government's Healthy Pupil Capital Fund.

Jeff Roberts, finance director at the college, said it was estimated the project would cost £600,000 and, depending on the application, work could start on it in September.

He added: "I can understand people's concerns because it is an unknown and we don't want to upset people.

"It won't generate any extra traffic, and instead of staff and students using the car park inside the college, out of hours it will be the users of the site.

"We carried out surveys to ensure that the plans would have minimum impact on residents and have changed the layout of the pitch accordingly."

People have until May 23 to register their support or objections to the plan.