LOCAL residents have slated plans to build homes on playing fields at a top York independent school.

The Mount School - former pupils of which include Dame Judi Dench and writer A S Byatt - says it wants to dispose of an unused portion of its extensive playing fields, with the released capital enhancing sports and performing arts facilities.

But householders in the area say playing fields should be protected from development, and argue that the proposal, which has been submitted to City of York Council, would exacerbate traffic problems on local streets and also surface water flooding issues.

Murray Rose, of Towton Avenue, who chairs a new campaign group called Mount Vale Community, said residents were united in their opposition.

“We believe that brownfield sites should be developed first, that playing fields should be protected and that residents should be involved in neighbourhood planning,” he said.

“The Mount Vale area is already subject to surface water flooding and to sewage problems.

“Traffic problems are rife on the streets. We would never think that it was a good idea to lose a playing field and to increase our flooding and traffic problems and we will fight the planning application.”

A leaflet being drawn up, which is set to be distributed to households, claims the application falls foul of local and national planning policy for playing fields.

It says a single proposed access to the site is set to be via a demolished house in Mount Vale Drive.

“Site traffic will be followed by an increase in residential vehicles creating additional risk for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on our roads, as well as congestion when accessing Tadcaster Road from St George’s Place.”

It claims: “City of York’s existing development plan identifies the land as a playing field and not land for housing. The council has rigorously assessed 800 sites in the city for development and the Mount School playing field was not one of these sites.”

The school said in a statement that capital released from sale of the land would be reinvested into the school, enhancing sports and performing arts facilities on the main campus.

“The Mount School continues to develop a capital investment programme so that the facilities remain at the highest possible standard for pupils and the local community,” it said.

“A planning application for 12 houses has been made by the developers, Mulgrave Properties, with the support of the school.”

It said Mulgrave Properties, its architects and planning consultants held a public meeting at the school in July when local residents from Towton Avenue, Mount Vale Drive and neighbouring streets were invited to hear about the proposals and discuss any concerns.

It said about 50 local residents attended, some of whom voiced concerns about drainage, traffic, trees and other matters. “As well as addressing the concerns at the time, a report of the meeting was submitted to the local planning authority as part of the application for planning consent.”