Plans for a new clubhouse for a community football club in Ashford have been approved despite neighbours' worries about noise.

An application to demolish the existing "dilapidated cabins" used by Bromley Green FC and replace them with accessible facilities was given the green light last week.

The upgrade by the Swan Centre would include a lobby area, club space with a kitchen and fully accessible changing facilities, showers and toilets.

New dedicated changing rooms for referees would also be built including an additional room in case there are male and female officials at the ground at the same time.

While these improvements would give a boost to the club, neighbours are concerned about potential anti-social behaviour.

A neighbour to the site, who lives in Mallards, wrote to the council opposing the plans.

Support officer Rosie Reid, read out her complaint at the planning committee meeting on December 12.

"She says she is against the Bromley Green planning application because it is not like for like, it will be up to three-times bigger.

"The residents are losing unnecessary green land, the project is selfish and doesn't consider other people needs.

"It is pure greed to grab green land, much needed for our future."

The resident added due to the size of the proposed building and the club's alcohol license, they would lose their privacy and peace.

Cllr David Smith (Ind), who used to work for the council in planning, raised his concerns the public had not been consulted with this plan before the application was submitted.

He said: "I'm very concerned with this development.

"There has been no consultation with members of the public before the planning application.

"The residents are losing unnecessary green land, the project is selfish and doesn't consider other people needs..." - Neighbour

"When I was a council officer, we went door to door to explain what was going on long before it went to a planning application."

While he agreed with the idea of a new clubhouse, he added: "I don't see how anyone would object to a sensible building on this site but this is so huge, so big and so overpowering that we would like it a smaller size."

Portfolio holder for culture Cllr Mike Bennett (Con) told councillors how a quick decision was needed so the club could secure up to £600,000 from the Football Federation.

However Cllr Bennet said he "respects Cllr Smith's passion in representing his ward".

Cllr Smith also shared his worries there is a potential flood risk in the area and asked for the plans to be deferred.

However the council's drainage engineer investigated the plans stating the site would not "give rise to an increase in on-or-off-site flood risk".

Despite the concerns raised, the majority of councillors followed the official recommendation to approve the proposal with two abstentions.