A ROW has blown up over the decision to allow hospital staff to use a school playground as a temporary car park.

Residents objecting to plans to turn the former Shipton Street School site in York into a car park feel they have been gagged by the council, after the decision was made behind closed doors on June 16.

The decision also comes despite a 60-name petition from local residents objecting to the scheme.

Local councillor Alan Jones said he was "extremely angry" the decision had not gone in front of councillors at the East Area planning committee.

He said the decision had denied residents and councillors the opportunity to speak out against it.

Referring to a previous occasion, when a decision by the local planning committee on a footpath near St Peter's School was overturned by a different council committee, he said: "I'm astonished the east area planning committee is being bypassed once again.

"Turning this land into a car park is a big decision - even if it is only temporary - and residents are extremely concerned about the impact on traffic.

"People have taken the trouble to organise a petition, and the decision should come before the council's local planning committee, where they can register their objections in person."

Clifton ward councillor David Scott had intended to speak at the east area planning committee in support of residents, and had been told the meeting would take place on July 14.

He said: "I was ready to go to the committee, and represent residents, but I've since been told I can't address the committee on this issue - because apparently it isn't important enough for them to deal with!

"I can't believe this decision has been made behind closed doors, rather than by councillors at a planning committee, where the issues can be publicly scrutinised and the decisions are democratically accountable."

Coun Scott is now asking for the matter to be referred to the council's next resources meeting.

Tony Potts, who runs Tony's Plaice, in Newborough Street, York, collected the petition.

Cars going in and out of the playground will use an entrance right next to his shop, and he fears their exhaust fumes will be an unpleasant, smelly nuisance to his customers.

He said: "The reason we started the petition was because the entrance and exit is right next door to the shop and there will be 48 cars going in and out."

Coun Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, , said that residents' objections were not necessarily a reason for a decision to be made at committee, and there would be a chance to review the situation at the end of six months.

Updated: 10:00 Tuesday, July 05, 2005