CAMPAIGNERS are launching what they say is a last-ditch push for much-needed green space in their corner of York.

The former Manor School fields have been fenced off for years since the school moved to its new site, but campaigners have been pushing for the fields to be handed to the community as new public open space.

Now a new draft version of the York Local Plan shows the fields could be built on, and the news has prompted anger from people who say the area is already short of green space.

Acomb’s Labour councillor Stuart Barnes, who has organised a public meeting about the site this week, said: “On the one hand the council is saying that the Manor School site accounts for more than 50 per cent of what they call ‘amenity green space’ available in Acomb, whilst at the same time proposing to use it for housing.

“I’m disappointed beyond belief with the aloof attitude of the Tories and Lib Dems in charge at the council.”

The housing move is a “kick in the teeth” for people in Acomb, a ward that is already earmarked to provide 1,100 new homes on the British Sugar site, he added, as the council’s own reports show a shortage of green space in the area.

Cllr Barnes has accused the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors of squeezing more homes into Acomb so they can stop housing plans in their own wards elsewhere in the city.

“They should be looking at the evidence and recognising the lack of green space as well as the strong and clear voice of local residents. Having new houses in the ward is fine, but urban areas need to have green spaces as lungs to breathe,” he added.

Acomb resident Sam Walker lives near the fields with his wife and 19-month-old son Ben. He said the area was “crying out” for a decent park.

“Since having a child we’ve realised there’s no decent green space near us. There is a small park off Old School Walk, but otherwise it’s a 20-25 minute walk to Acomb Green.”

The “dream” is something like Rowntree Park or West Bank Park, Sam said, but initially he’d like to see the land handed over to a community group so locals could start raising funds and planning a new park.

City of York Council’s assistant director for planning Mike Slater stressed that the Local Plan was in draft form, and had not been finalised.

The need for open space will be important consideration when sites like Manor School - which already contain open space - are decided, he added.

Lib Dem Andrew Waller, who represents neighbouring Westfield, encouraged people to use the Local Plan consultation to speak out about open space in their area.

He said the shortage of important open space and recreation space on the west of the city was an active point of discussion in his own ward - especially with proposals to build on the old Lowfield school site.

However, Acomb’s other ward councillor, Conservative Keith Myers, accused Cllr Barnes of considering Acomb a Labour “fiefdom”.

He said Cllr Barnes was “getting an education in the difficult trade-offs inherent in putting together a Local Plan.”

“Labour have continually pushed for more housing for York as long as the proposed development is in the city’s outer wards.

“But as soon as more housing is planned for a York Central ward it becomes a different story and is suddenly unacceptable.”

The Friends of Acomb Park public meeting about the fields will be on Friday, October 20 at 6pm at Lidgett Methodist Church in Acomb,