A football club could take hundreds of extra fans if plans to build a 300 seater terrace are given approval.

Eastbourne Borough Football Club, whose home ground is Priory Lane, Langney, has applied for planning permission to add 300 seats in a covered terrace, a hospitality room for guests and a toilet block in club grounds to bolster its chances of promotion.

The club already has space for 1,700 supporters, 300 of which are seated.

Club chairman Len Smith said: "According to league rules the ground must be totally enclosed by a permanent fence of 2.4 metres high or higher and we have an area of 22 metres which only has temporary fencing. When we went up the the Dr Martens Southern Division we said we would get that replaced in a couple of seasons. But if we want to go up to a higher league we have to have seats for about 500 people. It seemed silly to put money into building the wall, so we want to build the stand instead."

But planning officers at Eastbourne Borough Council say they have received nine letters of objection and a petition with 58 signatures from nearby residents against the proposals.

In a report to councillors, planning officers said residents had complained most about a lack of parking facilities in the area and fears the problem would become exaggerated if more fans were encouraged along to games.

At present the club attracts more than 400 supporters to home games.

Mr Smith, who has been involved in the club for 35 years and chairman for the last ten said the parking facilities were adequate but the problem was encouraging fans to use them.

He continued: "We met with residents last week to discuss the problems and it is car parking. We have got a large car park, it's encouraging people to use it that is the problem. It is never full, people park on the roads.

"We have to encourage people to use it and we are going to put stewards there and signpost it better."

In the officer's report, which has been given to all councillors on the planning committee, costs to change traffic and parking facilities would have to be met by the club.

The proposal will go before the planning committee today (TUES) at the town hall.