A tennis club in St Albans has been granted permission to install floodlights.

The Salisbury Lawn Tennis Club applied to St Albans District Council to install nine LED floodlights around two of their courts earlier this year.

And on Monday (June 22) a meeting of the council’s development control committee gave the plans the go-ahead.

Club chairman Nick Birchall told the committee they were currently the only private tennis club in St Albans without lighting – which put them at a disadvantage.

And he said that during the winter months the club’s courts were under-used.

Mr Birchall said the club, based in Salisbury Avenue, near Fleetville, placed much importance on being a local, family-friendly community tennis facility – with links to local schools and a membership largely living within a one mile radius.

And he said they had spent two years developing the plan – building in very specific measures to limit the impact on the area.

As a result, the committee heard, the height of the planned floodlights had been reduced from 8m to 6.5m, they would be limited to two out of the three courts and they would use highly directional LED technology.

Mr Birchall told the committee: "Our intention is not to change the community ethos of the club with this proposals.

"The limited court lighting would extend playing time for members, attract new families and juniors into tennis – reinforced by continuity of coaching throughout the year – and strengthen our links to local schools and enable the club to operation a level footing with other clubs in the local area."

According to the application, the lighting will be available for use between 3.30pm and 9.30pm on Monday to Saturday evenings and 3.30pm to 6pm on Sundays during the months of September to April.

But unlike more traditional lights, they will only be switched on when players are on the courts – remaining off when no-one is playing.

The application triggered a significant number of responses from those in favour of the floodlights – and those against.

Speaking against the application at the meeting, resident Katie Telkman said the lights would "adversely affect the daily life of residents" – impacting of the quality of life, health and well-being.

She pointed to the impact light intrusion and glare would have on residents and she told councillors that the lights would dominate the skyline.

She also suggested that it would result in a material change of use and urged councillors to reject the application.

According to the planning officer’s report to the committee, the use of LED will would severely restrict the spill of light.

And the report suggested that the lights would not have a detrimental impact on the character or appearance of the area.

At the meeting the proposal was backed unanimously by the committee.