MORE than 75 residents turned out to show their support for a campaign to save a York footpath from being closed.

The hour-long public meeting, at Clifton Methodist Church, was called by local residents angry at the proposed closure of a public right of way running through the grounds of St Peter's School.

Councillors voted last month to sanction the closure, after hearing concerns from school chiefs and North Yorkshire Police about the risk to pupils and staff from potential intruders accessing the school grounds from the footpath.

Residents now have at least five weeks to lodge their objections, after which the matter could be deferred to the Government, which may then decide to call a public inquiry into the issue.

All three Clifton ward councillors attended Thursday's meeting, to show their support for the residents.

Councillor David Scott told the Evening Press: "We feel that there are other problem areas in the school grounds, such as holes in the fencing, which could pose a greater security risk.

"We are calling for a public inquiry, as this will give residents their first opportunity to challenge the assertions which have been made."

An action group of six residents was formed at the meeting, the first task of which will be to send a letter to residents who attended, reminding them to make formal, written objections to City of York Council.

Jim Begley, the meeting's organiser, said two former pupils and a former teacher came along to register their opposition to the closure.

Mr Begley said the former teacher "expressed very articulately what we all feel - that the threat of crime and violence posed by keeping the footpath open is not as great as the figures the school presented suggest".

A spokesman for St Peter's School said the school felt it would have been inappropriate to attend the meeting.

He said: "We fully understand that people have every right to voice their objections. But we remain confident that the application meets all the criteria of the legislation that permits the closure of public footpaths running through schools on the grounds of safety and security for pupils and staff."

He added that advice from police and security experts recommended the closure as the best course of action in the interests of crime reduction.

Meanwhile, council planning chiefs agreed to close an alleyway in Holgate after local residents complained to councillors that it was being used as a haven for drug dealing and criminal damage.

About £3,000, obtained through the Safer York Partnership, will enable the alley at the back of the Cleveland Street cul-de-sac to be closed, using lockable gates at either end.

The closure was sanctioned on the basis that it is not needed for public use.

Holgate ward councillor Martin Bartlett welcomed the decision.

He said: "We are very, very pleased that residents' requests to close this problem alley have been granted.

"There is no need for people to use this route to get to the play area on the other side, as it is easily accessible by Cleveland Street itself."

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, December 18, 2004