A controversial £6m sports and leisure hub has been approved by Conservative councillors, overturning the refusal of an earlier planning committee meeting.

Objectors piled in to the public gallery at the Civic Centre in Esher for the full planning meeting on July 10, which ran late in to the night.

The council's own outline plans for a new football ground, athletics track, children’s play area and outdoor gym in Waterside Drive, Walton, were passed 14 votes to nine, which prompted boos from the public and an outburst by Councillor Ian T Donaldson.

Coun Donaldson, directing his comments to the public gallery after the vote, said: “This is politics. Poli means the many, tics means local blood-sucking parasites.”

Despite a motion for the vote to be deferred until a detailed contamination assessment had been made on the former landfill site, the majority decided the scheme was a good one.

Councillor Roy Green said it could cost millions if the plans went ahead and it was later discovered the land was contaminated and dangerous, but officers assured conditions were in place to prevent this.

Walton north councillor Chris Cross said: “It’s the bigger picture I’m trying to get people to see. I’ve supported this since the beginning.

“This keeps it recreational and I’m passionate about the green belt like everybody else but I also believe in common sense and if people don’t use this site, then it’s wasted.”

Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Janet Turner warned passing the application on greenbelt land would open the floodgates for future applications and the finger would be pointed at them for setting a precedent.

Ian T Donaldson raised separate concerns about the site’s location to the nearby BP aviation fuel storage depot, which serves as the main feeder depot for Heathrow and Gatwick.

He raised fears about it being a potential target for terrorists, and reminded councillors of the catastrophic Buncefield explosion.

He said: “Should we really be building a sport facility serving possibly a 1,000 people in such a potentially dangerous site?”

The British Pipeline Association has officially objected to the proposals.

Councillor Simon Dodsworth, who moved a motion to pass the proposals, said it was a wholly appropriate use of the site.

A full, detailed planning application will now be drawn up and brought back to council at a later date.