PARISH councillors have launched a bid to protect a York school’s playing fields from any future redevelopment.

Osbaldwick Parish Council has applied to City of York Council for the fields on the Osbaldwick Primary School Leyes site to be designated as an ‘Asset of Community Value.’ Such status for a site means it cannot be sold until the community nearby has first been given a chance to bid for it.

Derwent School was closed and merged with Osbaldwick Primary School in 2013 after falling rolls, but the school operates on two sites.

Parish chairman and York councillor Mark Warters said the ACV bid was made in the wake of a consultation earlier this year with parents on the possible consolidation of two parts of the school on to one site, which he feared left the fields at risk of housing development.

The parish said in its application that the playing fields performed an obvious social function as outdoor recreational space for pupils, and members wanted to ensure they remained.

It said: “Osbaldwick Sports Club have had a long held wish to provide bowling green facilities in the local area, given the proximity to the club and the enclosed nature of the school playing fields this area represents the perfect opportunity for such a use.”

The school head was not available but Mark Ellis, the council’s head of services for schools, said: “As per the usual process, we will consider the ACV application in the light of the legal criteria and it will be decided by the executive member.

“Merging the two schools into a single site is not something the council is pursuing.”

A spokeswoman said the school was not pursuing the site merger.