Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has objected to Ashby Ivanhoe Football Club's application to carry out further improvements to its ground in Lower Packington Road.

The club wants to expand its existing clubhouse to include raising the roof height to provide first floor accommodation, dormer windows and a balcony - along with new changing room facilities and an extension to a terrace stand.

But the Town Council's planning committee discussed the plans at Monday night's meeting, and heard from local residents who were concerned at the continuing expansion of the site, claiming that some people had suffered abuse and even threats from people parking outside the ground and on to the nearby housing estate.

Councillors also expressed their concerns about highway safety and the entrance to the ground.

Some were also unhappy that the latest plans come before work had started on a previous application which was permitted by North West Leicestershire District Council in July.

An artist's impression of how the ground would look when the work is completed

Then, the club got the go-ahead for new sport pitches and a larger parking area.

But the district council urged the club to create a liaison committee with residents.

Ashby councillor admitted on Monday that they were not happy that this did not appear to have happened.

The committee said it objects to the latest planning application on the grounds of highway safety.

It told North West Leicestershire District Council: "The Town Council notes that highway and access issues identified in the previous application submitted earlier this year have still not been resolved, resulting in cars parking on the pavements along Lower Packington Road and surrounding residential streets.

"Until this has been actioned further planning applications/amendments inside the site should not be considered.

"This application consists of expansion to the site, but the previous application, which primarily involved the expansion of on-site parking and improved access has not been implemented.

"The Town Council is also concerned with additional noise from the balcony which is likely to disturb local residents, particularly as the clubhouse is used for many functions and events, other than football matches, which run into the latter part of the night.

"The Town Council would request that the football club arranges a meeting with residents, as has been suggested previously and was to be a condition of the previous permission mentioned above, as no dialogue has yet taken place.

"The club needs to demonstrate it has considered how its members can walk and cycle to the club. This is not evident from this planning application."

Cllr Carl Benfield said: "I'm supportive of what the club is trying to do, but am disappointed in the way they've gone about it.

"We've heard from residents' groups that there've been no consultations, and they've raised reasonable concerns over noise, behaviour, parking and waste.

"I don't see the club trying to address those. A community facility does not seem to have engaged with the community. That's an overwhelming sadness."

Cllr Murrae Blair-Park said it was important not to lose the facility as they have provided sporting activities for local youngsters.

But he also thought the engagement with residents should be improved - and suggested a meeting between the two parties.

Cllr Tom Stanley said that stewarding could perhaps be arranged on match days to ease parking concerns.

But Cllr Chris Smith added: "This assumes the previous application has been done, but they have permission.

"The second work could be done before the first lot. I'm a bit suspicious this came in so quickly after the previous one. Why not make it all in one?

"This relies on some of the things in the previous application that haven't happened yet."

Committee chair Cllr Dave Bigby said that no work should go ahead until the plans agreed in July have been put into place.

He added that the latest application is reliant on improvements to the ground's access which have not yet happened.

Representatives of Ashby Ivanhoe FC were not at the meeting.