MYSTERY surrounds the future of a sports facility near York, which could be plunged into darkness over a floodlight row.

Local residents and council officers complained about the lights at York Golf Range, in Strensall, claiming they cause light pollution and damage the amenity of the local area.

The lights have been in place since 2003, but City of York Council said they were not included in its original planning permission to develop the range, granted in 2002.

A retrospective application was due to go before the council's east area planning sub-committee next week.

But the application was withdrawn yesterday, after being recommended for refusal.

In a supporting statement for the golf range, the applicants said they would be unable to continue as a teaching academy without the floodlights, forcing the loss of two members of staff.

The applicants said yesterday that they had withdrawn their application, and negotiations with the council were ongoing.

In the report, development control officer Michael Jones wrote: "The lights can be seen from various vantage points, including the A64.

"It is therefore considered that the floodlights detract from the character of the area. The level of illumination is excessive within this green belt location."

He concluded: "The floodlighting has not been designed to respect or enhance the character and visual amenity of this rural area within the green belt.

"A significant amount of light emitted from the floodlights is lost outside of the driving range boundary which results in light pollution and further visual harm to the open countryside."

The lights were deemed to contravene several council policies, including one which specifically says golf range applications will only be granted if they are not visually intrusive through floodlighting.

According to the report, the applicants claim three 2,000-watt floodlights were approved as part of the original planning permission for the range in 2002.

But, the report says, the council's file shows no evidence of lights being considered. It says more than three lights have been erected on top of the hitting area.

In a public consultation on the latest, retrospective, application, two members of the public submitted complaints, including that:

* The lights are too intense and is intruding on their house * They create severe light pollution in a rural environment and are a distraction to motorists on the A64 * The proposal does not comply with the Clean Neighbourhoods And Environment Act 2005 * The lights illuminate the golf driving range, but also the adjacent woodland * The lights can be seen from more than a mile away l*of wildlife in adjoining woods has fallen.