An eight lane athletics track is to be built in the grounds of a private school.

Maidstone council's planning committee voted in favour of the track at Sutton Valence School by eight votes to nil before a packed public gallery at the Town Hall last night.

Three committee members abstained.

The plans had been criticised by opponents who said the track would have a detrimental impact on Sutton Valence and would not benefit the wider community.

However, those behind the plans dismissed claims that the scheme was “elitist”, and said the decision to grant permission would benefit young athletes throughout Maidstone.

The floodlit track is being funded by £500,000 from Sutton Valence School and £294,000 from the council, and follows the recent announcement that the school is to become an official training centre for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

It will be shared with local runners and the Medway and Maidstone Athletics Club, whose chairman Paul Alcock said: “We’ve been trying to secure a top-class training facility like this for 25 years – this will be one of the best athletics tracks in the south of England.”