A secondary school, which was previously banned from blowing whistles on its £700,000 sports ground, has been taken to court by a neighbour over noise complaints.  

Cornwallis Academy near Maidstone, Kent, invested the six-figure sum in a floodlit, FIFA-certified 3G artificial grass football pitch, which was later unveiled in June 2023. 

Approval for the pitch was given by the council in January 2023 on the basis that no whistles would be used for matches held after hours.  

Residents later complained of noise emanating from the ground, with a report filed to Maidstone Borough Council of a failure to enforce the whistle ban.

And because the academy had breached its planning permission, the council said use of the pitch had to stop.

In 2025, the whistle ban was later lifted on appeal despite complaints from locals that the facility ruined their peace and quiet.

Now, a neighbour who lives 300ft from the 3G pitch has launched legal action claiming Cornwallis Academy has breached environmental protection laws.

Future Schools Trust - the school's operator - pleaded not guilty at a first hearing at Maidstone Magistrates Court earlier this month. 

The neighbour has accused the school of committing a statutory noise nuisance in breach of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - specifically breaching part of the act outlawing any noise emitted which is 'prejudicial to health or a nuisance'.

Under section 82 of the act, proceedings may be brought to magistrates' court by anyone aggrieved by statutory nuisances.

The Future Schools Trust denied the allegations at the magistrates' court on May 19.

The case was adjourned and is set to be heard at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on October 23, 2026.

Mason Dadson, a spokesperson for Cornwallis Academy, said: 'A local resident has commenced legal proceedings against the school in relation to an alleged noise nuisance. 

'While it would not be appropriate for the school to comment on the specifics of ongoing court proceedings, it is a matter of public record that the complaint concerns the use of the school’s artificial grass football pitch outside school hours. 

'The school denies the existence of a noise nuisance and is fully engaging with the court process.

'The AGP was installed in 2023 on the school’s playing fields, in an area previously occupied by two grass pitches. 

'It was installed following a detailed planning process, which included input from Sport England, and was approved by Maidstone Borough Council.

'The school’s intention has always been to provide an all-weather, state-of-the-art pitch for both its students and local community youth teams.

'The school remains committed to providing a safe, affordable and inclusive environment in which organised youth teams and community clubs can play, develop and thrive.'