CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend the use of football pitches are set to be thrown tonight.

Rayleigh Boys and Girls FC wanted to start using its pitches off Old London Road, Rawreth, on Saturdays and weekday evenings, but residents in Church Road and Old London Road feared an increase in noise and traffic.

The club, which has about 900 members, has applied to Rochford District Council to extend its use of the pitches and has received the support of ten people who claim the club does a lot for young people in Rayleigh.

However, planning officers at the council have recommended refusing the application, as the increase in use would disturb neighbours.

Shaun Scrutton, the council’s head of planning and transport, said: “The proposed intensification in the use of the site for football to include Saturdays and weekday evenings, taking into account the number of spectators, players and cars likely to be involved, is considered likely to result in a level of noise and activities each day detrimental to the amenities of nearby residents.

If allowed, the proposed variation would result in the continued presence of playing football on each day detracting from the quiet those nearby residents ought reasonably expect to enjoy.”

Rayleigh FC, which is one of the largest junior football clubs in the county, can only play at the site on Sundays and eight Saturdays a year.

The restrictions were put in place when the council controversially approved its application to move the previously nomadic club to the site in 2010.

Club officials nowwant to vary those conditions to allow play all weekend, and also between the hours of 5pm and 8pm on weekdays.

The council granted Academy Soccer permission to play on Saturdays when it approved plans for it to open on neighbouring land last year.

Brian Mitchell, president of the football club, said: “It needs to be used because in Rayleigh most pitches are under water or overcrowded on Saturdays.

“It seems totally and utterly ridiculous the council give permission for us to use the grounds, but not on Saturdays.

“They have given permission for Academy Soccer to use the other pitches on Saturdays.

“A lot of people cannot quite understand what is going on.”

The meeting will start at 7.30pm.