FORMER property developer Eddie Mitchell could see his plans for a £30,000 high-tech football training arena at Poole’s Whitecliff Park be given the green light today.

Plans for a permanent 360-degree footballing facility at Whitecliff have been recommended for approval by council officers.

Mr Mitchell is part owner of Elite Skills Arena or ESA, which is applying for permission to install one of their ‘ICON’ arenas to the eastern edge of Whitecliff park, just south of the car park near Sandbanks Road.

The arena would be a 4m diameter circle which is free to play with youngsters able to come along and use their own ball.

It is an ammended application for a much larger arena which included a 3m fence, flashing lights and sounds.

According to the planning documents it “complements the leisure and active character of the area, and the scale of the proposal does not detract from its surrounding.”

The application has attracted a handful of objections from residents and local associations.

The Society of Poole Men said: “I object to this proposal that effectively turns public open space into the control of a private commercial concern.

“It is considered that, with the increasing intensification of housing densities, public open space needs to be increased and certainly not reduced.”

But Sport England have raised no objection to the plans as it says there will be no impact on any playing pitches or on the sporting capability of the site.

And John and Mary Rosser, who live in Whitecliff Road opposite the site, have expressed their concerns about loss of children’s play facilities, parking and disturbance to residents living opposite.

They said: “The proposed area is used for picnicking and parents sit and watch their children while they play. We do not think there is room for this additional feature.

According to ESA the arena is designed for children up to 13-years of age.

The plans will go before Borough of Poole’s planning committee at 1pm today.