CAMPAIGNERS are urging councillors to refuse planning permission for improvements to a football club's training facilities.

Sunderland AFC's revised plans for its Academy of Light go before South Tyneside councillors tomorrow.

Despite local opposition, the club won outline planning approval from the Secretary of State in February 2000 for a multi-million pound academy, set in 60-acres at former Whitburn Moor Farm, just north of Sunderland.

But having begun groundwork, the club revised its plans to include a full-size indoor football pitch and a 52-bed hostel.

Other changes included an 8ft perimeter fence, a groundsman's store and a nature study centre.

The club said improvements were needed to meet latest FA requirements for football academies, and to keep up with other clubs.

Club chairman Bob Murray described the proposals as "crucial" to the academy in a recent letter to season ticket holders.

But South Tyneside council's planning committee is recommended to reject the revised proposals.

Local development manager Paul Dowling said they represented a major departure from the Secretary of State's conditions, limiting the scale of buildings.

Now the Green Belt Action Group (GBAG), made up of residents from surrounding communities Whitburn, Cleadon and Seaburn Dene, is urging committee members to follow the officer's recommendation.

GBAG said it would increase the built part of the site three-fold, further damaging the narrow green belt separating Sunderland and South Tyneside.

GBAG chairman Tim O'Leary said: "Once again the responsibility for protecting South Tyneside's green belt falls on the shoulders of local councillors.

"In the past the council has consistently adopted a policy of jealously protecting these areas from harmful development, a policy they have already relaxed several times to support the football club in this project.

"However, the latest proposals are inappropriate and harmful to this narrow Green Belt and we're confident the councillors will follow the recommendations of the planning officers and reject the plans."

The club said committee members were not bound by the recommendations and added it would be happy to comment after the special meeting, which is at South Shields Town Hall, at 1pm tomorrow.