CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop a school being built in Towneley Park are hoping for an early Christmas present - a public inquiry to get the development shelved.

Towneley for the People has been urging Burnley residents to write to the Government officially objecting plans to build a new home for Unity College in the park as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future Programme.

After landowners Burnley Council objected to Lancashire County Council's plans for the new Unity College, county hall had to seize the parkland required to build the super school.

As part of the process LCC had to allow a period for objections to gauge whether a public inquiry was needed. Now the deadline for objections has closed the group is hoping it has done enough to persuade the Government to call in the plans.

Secretary Ian Galbraith said: "We are determined to make sure the views of the people of Burnley and the council are listened to.

"This just has not happened so far.

"Towneley is so important to the people of Burnley and we are going to fight this as long as we can.

"We are hoping there will be a public inquiry because of the strength of public opinion.

"We are waiting for an answer regarding a public inquiry and I would hope it would be before Christmas."

Towneley for the People object to the school because it claims it would destroy the park, increase the risk of flooding, and that the present site or another in Burnley Wood would be more suitable.

Almost 1,300 people signed a petition organised by the group against the 1,050-place secondary school which would replace the former Towneley High School.

If approved the existing school would be turned into parkland.