Dorchester Town Football Club claimed a victory off the pitch after being granted an extension in planning permission for its marquee.

The Magpies were granted temporary permission for the Prince’s Marquee for three months despite complaints from residents of nearby Castle Park over excessive noise.

The extension includes a number of conditions, with live bands now prohibited from playing in the marquee and a limit on amplified music.

Residents and football supporters both stated their cases at a meeting of West Dorset District Council’s development control committee.

Barry Tempest, of Castle Park, said: “It is obvious to anyone that live music or significantly amplified sound on a regular basis in a tent at a range of about 150m from a residential area is simply unacceptable.”

Secretary for the Dorchester Town FC Supporters Trust, Dave Ring, said the very future of the club, and all the benefits it bought to the town and community, would be in jeopardy if it lost the revenue stream from the marquee.

He said: “Due to the continuous adverse economic climate we genuinely fear the loss of the marquee at this stage could put the very survival of the football club in doubt.”

Magpies’ chairman Shaun Hearn told the meeting that the three months extension would allow the club to continue its operations in the marquee while progressing with plans for a permanent, more soundproof structure.

The council’s senior planning officer Andrew Martin admitted his department had faced a ‘dilemma’ in considering the application because they had to consider the interests of residents as well as the community asset that is the football club.

Officers recommended temporary permission for three months with conditions not to use the marquee after midnight, no live music and a limit on amplified music and the recommendations were approved by members.

After the meeting Mr Hearn said the three-month extension was the best outcome the club could have hoped for.

He said: “I think common sense has prevailed. It’s not brilliant for us financially but we have got to think about the community.”

Mr Hearn added: “We hope there won’t be any more complaints.

“There won’t be any more live bands and the noise limiter will be set to what West Dorset District Council recommended.”