THE York school at the centre of a bitter footpath row was today labelled crass and insensitive, after using today's tenth anniversary of the Dunblane massacre to boost its argument.

St Peter's School claimed the anniversary "underlined" the need to close the footpath running through their grounds.

But local residents and councillors opposed to the path's closure blasted the school for using low tactics to strengthen their case. A Dunblane councillor also criticised their approach.

The footpath has been at the heart of a long-running wrangle, and a public inquiry is currently being held to determine the path's future.

The school and City of York Council want it closed to boost school security and to help prevent crime. But local campaigners the Clifton Path Action Group say it is a historic right of way and should remain open.

In a statement to the Evening Press, the school's head master, Richard Smyth, said: "The tenth anniversary of the tragic incidents at Dunblane is a sobering reminder of the potential for serious criminal acts that all schools must be aware of in today's society.

"The safety and security of our pupils and staff has always been the primary reason behind our proposal to close the footpath and one that we hope even the most ardent objectors would understand."

The school's press release said the anniversary "only serves to underline the importance of taking all possible steps to improve the safety and security of pupils, including the closure of the public footpath."

But Ken King, a Clifton councillor, said: "I think it's totally inappropriate, and I'm disgusted that the head master of such a prestigious school as St Peter's would stoop to those kinds of arguments."

"I think everybody is sorry for what happened at Dunblane, and we all feel for the people that suffered there, but to use it in this way is most inappropriate."

Fellow councillor David Scott said: "I would certainly say it's an inappropriate comment. If anyone was involved in Dunblane, I do not think they would welcome this comparison. I do not at all."

Coun Alan Jones added: "For an organisation like St Peter's to use the anniversary of Dunblane is a bit low. If this is not sensationalising things then I do not know what is." Jim Begley, of the Clifton Path Action Group, said: "The press release by the school is crass, and it's also pernicious.

" It's highly injurious to constructive debate and compromise."

Pat Greenhill, councillor for Dunblane West, said: "It's always been the view of the people of Dunblane that they have never liked Dunblane to be used as a reason for anybody else's decisions."

Tragedy could happen again says police chief

A TOP police officer today admitted that another tragedy like Dunblane could happen again, despite the law being tightened up since the shootings.

Sir Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said that a similar incident would be "far more unlikely".

He added: "It would be foolish to say it couldn't, because people get access to weapons and become rogue in the way they behave and they're very difficult to track.

"But what we do know now is that people who are registered as firearms owners have to go through a very stringent vetting process which has been revamped since Dunblane, the law's changed since Dunblane."

Speaking on Sky News's Sunday Live with Adam Boulton, he said that progress towards a national register of handguns has "not been as quick as it could be".

However, he said that it was important not to get "hung up" on the idea that this would prevent gun crime when many other steps, such as licensing handguns and introducing stricter rules for ownership, had been taken.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, March 13, 2006