HERITAGE experts want City of York Council to change its plans for a new community centre, so the last remaining part of an old city school can stay standing.

The 1930s Art Deco gymnasium at Burton Stone Lane Community Centre is all that remains of Water Lane High School for Girls, but it is earmarked for demolition under council plans.

The authority wants to tear down the centre, to make way for 29 flats and four bungalows in a sheltered housing complex for older people - and new community facilities.

However, York Civic Trust wants to see the building - which was built by renowned architects Penty and Thompson in 1939 - saved.

Trust boss Dr David Fraser said: “The trust fully recognises the need to redevelop this site, but we strongly feel that this historic building can and should be retained, if a little more imagination is used. As the last surviving building from the Water Lane High School and a great example of 1930’s art deco design and brickwork, it would be a huge loss to the heritage of York to demolish it.

“A redesign of the site could retain the building and secure this heritage asset for future generations, as well as greatly improving the look of the current designs.”

The city council applied for planning permission for the site in February. At the time, planning documents said an initial idea of keeping and refurbishing the sports hall had to be scrapped because the building was in such a poor state that repair costs would be unaffordable.

Yesterday social care boss Martin Farran backed that position, saying the gym also sits on a boiler house which would be “difficult, potentially unsafe and environmentally unfriendly” to upgrade.

Mr Farran added: “We looked very closely at whether we could keep the school gymnasium, but unfortunately there are several reasons why we don’t consider it to be possible.

“It is really important that the community facilities are a place which connect to the care scheme, so that young and old can share the space and interact together. This wouldn’t be possible with all the extra ramps and level changes which would be required to keep the gym. This is the same reason that the bulk of the school was demolished in the 1980s.”

A consultation held last year saw people who use the space respond positively to the plans, he said.

The architects Penty and Thompson also designed the Grade II listed redbrick Queen’s Building at St Peter’s School, and were involved with the Regal Cinema on Piccadilly built in 1937 and demolished in 1989.

The council’s planning department has until Friday, May 4, to decide on the planning permission.