THE gates to a former school field have been welded shut, despite a campaign for open access.

Manor CE School fields have been officially closed to the public for some time, but Acomb councillor Stuart Barnes believes the empty fields - which are owned by the city council - should be there for locals to use.

Labour’s Cllr Barnes said: “It’s such an important site and there are no real alternatives in terms of large open spaces that families, kids, dog walkers and other residents can freely access nearby.”

Free football coaching sessions for children are being run on the fields in the summer holidays, but Cllr Barnes said he wants to see the fields open all the time.

“Sadly in recent weeks we’ve seen the access gates welded shut as the council tightens its grip and continues its ludicrous approach to denying residents access to an important leisure and wellbeing facility.

“If this were happening in Rowntree Park or Museum Gardens there would be outrage but it’s as if the Conservative and Lib Dems on the council are quite happy to stick two fingers up at Acomb residents.”

A 500 name petition was submitted to the council in December, but no progress has been made since, he added, and Cllr Barnes is now worried the council could be “dragging its feet” about protecting trees on the site.

The former school buildings were hit by a serious fire two years ago, and council leader David Carr said the site is fenced off because it is unsafe.

He said: “We are not ignoring Acomb residents. The Manor School playing fields site has never been open for public access and is not safe enough for open access now.

“However, we are working with the local community to allow more access than ever before by permitting specific events on a properly supervised basis.”

They are looking for a longer term solution, he added, including the British Sugar site which is in the Local Plan and could give Acomb open space and community facilities, as well as housing, Cllr Carr said.

Acomb councillor Keith Myers, a Conservative councillor, said he had been assured the fields would be opened “for organised and casual use” as soon as the buildings are demolished.

“The school has been burgled twice since the nursery vacated the building and I understand that officers are waiting for tenders to demolish the old school buildings, hopefully this summer,” he added.

“Living as I do within 150 yards of the site I can assure Acomb residents that retention of the majority of the playing field for future public use is my overriding priority.”