Artist's impressions show how the ground could look in the future

Kent County Cricket Club's proposals for its St Lawrence ground were passed by Canterbury City Council on Thursday.

Local residents had objected, fearing their quality of life would be adversely affected by the developments.

But the club argued that new ways of making money would secure the future of county cricket in Canterbury.

John Brooks and Bill Burnett, both members of the cricket club who also live behind the ground in St Lawrence Forstal, are concerned about an increase in traffic and visual changes in their area.

"The traffic from the hotel and additional housing will have a significant effect on the whole of south Canterbury," Mr Burnett said.

'Not sustainable'

Mr Brooks added: "The cricket club certainly has to do something to keep the ground going, but it's the manner of the development [which is of concern]."

The club said it was only the �680,000 auction sale of a cricket painting last June that helped it post a profit for the year ending October 2006.

Chief executive Paul Millman said: "We've been living on 40-days-a-year cricket, which is not sustainable.

"The ground is very tired, the facilities need upgrading, but we have no way of doing that without additional finance.

"This is one of the solutions to ensure a future at Canterbury."