GOVERNMENT inspectors have given the go-ahead to build a new school on Towneley playing fields.

The news that the new Unity College will be built there was met with both delight and dismay.

The county council's plans to build a new school on the playing fields, which have been used as recreational grounds by the community for years, hit a snag when Burnley Council refused to sell sections of the fields it owned.

The council's objections was joined by strong opposition from the community, largely campaign group Towneley for the People, about the loss of open space and negative impact on Burnley.

The row continued and a four-day public inquiry was held at Burnley Town Hall in August to resolve whether county council should be able to obtain the land with a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

Yesterday the inspector, Jonathan King, published his decision, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, to allow the CPO, so that the school can open within the BSF deadline of 2010.

Mr King said: "Whilst understanding the concerns of the objectors about the loss of what are clearly valued and much enjoyed community public open space facilities, we are satisfied that there is a compelling case made for the council's school plans."

He agreed there are no obvious alternative sites for the school, though states: "the council might have applied a more rigorous approach to exploring other alternatives".

He added that the land exchange provision, which will see the current Unity College building demolished and returned to parkland, means the community will regain its recreational facility.

Unity headteacher Sally Cryer said: "We're absolutely thrilled. This new school will benefit generations of children in Burnley, but will also be very much a community building, and adults can use the facilities out of school hours."

Ian Galbraith, spokesperson for Towneley for the People, said: "We are extremely disappointed about the Government's decision, which will permanently harm the park which is so important to the people of Burnley.

"The decision not only reduces the recreational facilities for the current residents of Burnley but makes Burnley a less desirable place for companies and people to move to."

Unity College is one of five new schools being built in Burnley as part of the authority's £250milllion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.