CAMPAIGNERS against the re-development of a York field have set a group to protest against possible changes.

Plans have been submitted to City of York Council to build a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) on Scarcroft Green for the use of children at Scarcroft Primary School.

The move has been strongly opposed by some people living nearby, who have set up Friends of Scarcroft Green (FOSG), to tackle the council and urge councillors to reject the proposals.

The plans include building a small MUGA in the car park and a larger version, which could be built on the green.

Friends of Scarcroft Green aim to keep the area a clean, safe and open space for all residents of York, and argue the MUGA, which would see an artificial surface fitted onto the field, reduce the space for those who use it regularly.

The school is proposing to build a small MUGA in the car park and a larger version, which could be built on the green.

The Press ran a letter outlining the group's concerns earlier this week and organisers say that has led to more people willing to join the campaign to reject the plans.

Stephen Galloway, from Friends of Scarcroft Green, said: "The reason we don't want the schools to use Scarcroft Green is that it's a beautiful, ancient community park.

"It's a community hub and thoroughfare and is used for the whole community from picnics to kite flying, and it would be a huge loss for the community to lose this green lung.

"The site of a MUGA on Scarcroft Green would be so detrimental that we need to oppose it as strong as we can."

Maxine Squire, assistant director of Children’s Services, Education and Skills, said: "The proposal passed by Executive on May 19 was to put a small MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) on part of the school’s own car park – not on the green.

"The school currently has insufficient outdoor space and we will consult on where to place a big MUGA out of three possible areas that might be suitable including the green."