Furious Warlingham chairman Steve Rolfe has slammed Tandridge Council's decision to refuse the club planning permission to build a new ground.

The club had hoped to construct a £750,000 sports complex on wasteland by Chelsham Road, Warlingham, but the plans were vetoed by the council's planning committee.

The seven man panel voted 6-1 against the proposal, claiming the development would spoil the greenbelt.

But Rolfe hit back at the decision and said the club would do everything possible to make the project happen.

He said: "It doesn't change things too much in the short term as it was something we feared might happen.

"We thought we had put together a great proposal that would benefit the whole community but just because we haven't got it passed at the first go doesn't mean it never will. We feel we have a strong case."

Lined-up for the development was a floodlit football pitch, a seven-a-side pitch, covered seating, a pavilion and changing rooms.

The plan was rejected by planning chiefs despite having overwhelming community support.

About 290 people signed a petition calling for an overgrown field in Chelsham Road, Warlingham, dubbed as a yobs' hangout, to be transformed into a sports centre.

"The sad thing is there isn't anyone against it. We had a few people raise issues but they have been overcome, this is a chance to make real investment in the area," added Rolfe.

If the club are not successful they would have to leave the Combined Counties League at the end of 2008-09 season, when new ground regulations come into force.

Rolfe said: "We'd have to drop down into the Surrey Elite League and would have no chance of promotion so it is something we'll do our very best to avoid.

"We have a variety of options available to us but have to consider how best to move on from here."

Warlingham Village Primary School, in Farleigh Road, which has no playing fields, would also be able to use the facilities.

The scheme was viewed as a major boost to the area especially as residents claimed the wasteland was blighted by drug abusers and antisocial behaviour.

Chris Camden, a governor at the school, who is also a Warlingham East district councillor, said: "I'm disappointed.

"The main sticking point was the height of the floodlights, but I'm hopeful a revised scheme will win approval."

But Burstow Councillor Peter Brown said he could not back the development in its current form because of the impact on the environment.

Brown told the meeting he was not convinced there were the required "very special circumstances" to permit such a major development on Green Belt land.

He said: "I'm afraid the Football Association's requirements conflict with our policies over Green Belt land, especially on floodlighting.

"The school may need a playing field – but this whole plan is much grander than any playing field required for a school."

After the meeting Bob Evans, the council's director of environmental protection, said he would be willing to work together with the sports club to devise a solution, but not at the expense of the Green Belt.