ANGRY families in Wantage protested after learning that a school sports dome will stay up near their homes this summer — and for the next three years.

King Alfred’s Community and Sports College was originally granted planning permission for an ‘Air Hall’ in Challow Road in April 2007. Under the terms of that planning permission, the £200,000 hall was only allowed to remain up between October and May.

Neighbours believed the college would have to pull down the dome, which sits on former outdoor tennis courts, by the end of the month.

But Oxfordshire County Council’s planning committee last week granted the college permission to keep the dome up all year round.

People living in Warmans Close and Lydsee Gate reacted angrily, claiming they will not be able to enjoy their gardens because of noise from the dome.

Peter Preston, of Warmans Close, said: “I am not at all happy.”

A Warmans Close resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I am very disappointed.

“We are concerned that they are going to keep it up indefinitely.

“Our main problem is the noise of the fans that keep the thing up.”

Another neighbour said: “If you come to the Close, then you can see why we do not want it here.”

About 1,760 students, aged between 11 and 18, use the sporting facility on a weekly basis.

College principal Nicholas Young said: “This is a vital facility for our students.

“We do understand some local residents’ concern about noise.

“We are installing internal divisions and netting to reduce the sound, and further measures around the compressor. These should make a big difference.”

A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said: “The college can retain an inflatable dome on site for 12 months a year until the expiry of the temporary planning permission in April 2012. This was subject to a further condition that the school carries out a noise assessment within the next two months, and is able to demonstrate levels generated by the dome's compressor are no higher than 50 decibels at any point three metres from the unit."

The council also recommended that the college establish a residents’ liaison group.