"Ridiculous" plans to build an electric car battery factory and close Coventry airport have received nearly 300 objections.

Warwick District Council officers have already recommended that the West Midlands Gigafactory be approved, but councillors must discuss the application tonight (January 11) due to the number of objections.

Residents, local councils and a cross-party parliamentary group have all gone against the proposals.

Objections have been made due to the closure of the airport, the building on greenbelt land and the impact on local traffic.

Student pilot Jennifer Hobson said: "I know how valuable Coventry airport is as a training facility.

"With so many airports closing across the country, we will soon be left with little to no adequate training facilities and the country will be left without any commercial pilots."

The plans, which could create up to 6,000 jobs according to Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd, will see the airfield levelled and a 125 hectare 'gigafactory' built.

The construction would happen in two phases the site would then run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

But residents said losing the airport would be a huge blow to the city.

"Coventry Airport is an important part of the city's infrastructure and it is ridiculous to even contemplate building on the land," said Chris Cross.

"The airport is as important as the train station and the bus station. It has a strong historical significance and links to the city of Coventry similar to the cathedral.

"I want to object in the strongest possible manner to this planning application which if allowed to proceed will deprive the city of its much needed airport."

As well as residents, both Baginton Parish Council and Bubbenhall Parish Council have objected to the plans. Countryside charity CPRE and local councillors have also submitted objections to WDC.

On Saturday (January 8) the Save Coventry Airport Group hosted an event at the airport attended by hundreds of local people to show their support.

The application, which has been backed by local MPs and the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, will be discussed by WDC tonight live on the council's YouTube channel.

More Kenilworth news stories:

- Kenilworth planning roundup: New Specsavers signs, abattoir expansion and battery factory

- Kenilworth Covid-19 infection rates more than double in space of two weeks