CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed City of York Council’s decision against fencing off part of a field.

Residents near Scarcroft Green had objected to suggestions that Scarcroft Primary School might be given part of the green near their playground to fence off and create an extra play area, and new proposals were drawn up following a series of meetings.

The council’s executive agreed at its March meeting that £1m would be allocated for a full-size multi-use games area (MUGA) on the Millthorpe Secondary School site, and the creation of additional parking spaces.

The plans and exact location will be determined following consultation by the South Bank Multi Academy Trust with the local community, and “during the school day the MUGA would be available for use by a number of schools in the area including Scarcroft Primary”.

In an email shared by the Friends of Scarcroft Green, campaigners said “the long period of waiting is finally over”, and welcomed the council’s approved plans.

They said: “The City of York Council Executive has now made its final decision regarding the expansion of Scarcroft Primary School and the issue of creating additional outdoor play space by remodelling the school’s car park, allowing space for a mini MUGA to be built.

“This means there will be no further fencing off of Scarcroft Green to meet the needs of Scarcroft Primary School for additional outdoor play space.” The group, which was founded last May, thanked everyone who had taken part in meetings and provided feedback on the plans, the legality of which was questioned at a meeting of more than 100 residents last July.

In the Executive report, officers said the preferred option among those consulted was to halve the number of parking spaces at the school, increasing the amount of play area by 1,846 square metres. The total budget for the scheme would be about £1.25m, including internal changes to Scarcroft Primary, the increase in outdoor play space at Millthorpe, and changes to car parking spaces. The group said: “The outcome we have achieved is one of fewer cars, more play space for school children, no further fencing off, at this point at least, of Scarcroft Green and a whopping saving to council of £6.5m.”