CAMPAIGNERS have urged education chiefs to work in partnership to minimise the impact of a new superschool at Burnley's Towneley playing fields.

Government inspectors have given the green light to Lancashire County Council for compulsory purchase orders so the new Unity College can be built on the much-used recreation grounds.

Protesters, while expressing dismay at the eventual outcome after a hard-fought battle against the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project, are now looking to the future.

Ian Galbraith, Towneley for the People spokesman, said: "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."

Government inspector Jonathan King criticised the county council for not seeking alternative sites - but accepted that further delays would only harm education provisions for existing and future pupils.

Mr Galbraith added: "It appears that the school will now be built in Towneley and we hope that the county council will work with us and other resident's groups to minimise the damage caused."

County council plans to build a new school on the playing fields hit a roadblock when Burnley council refused to sell the authority vital parcels of land, which it owned, for the scheme.

A four-day public inquiry into the issue was held at Burnley Town Hall last August. Unity College is one of five new schools being built in Burnley as part of the authority's £250milllion BSF scheme.

The inspector's decision should enable the new school to open by September 2010.

Once the school is completed, the existing Unity College buildings and curtilage, formerly known as Towneley High, will be transformed into parkland.

Burnley council leader Gordon Birtwistle was also appalled by the inquiry's outcome.

He said: "The inspector and minister have taken little heed of what the residents of Burnley want and the county council have rode roughshod over us again.

"This land would have been used by hundreds of thousands of people for recreation over the years and it is an irreplaceable loss to the borough."

But County Coun Marcus Johnstone, schools cabinet member, said: "We thank the inspector for his thorough inquiry and hope that the whole community will now unite behind his decision."

Unity headteacher Sally Cryer added: "We have always worked very well with the local community and we're looking forward to working with them to make sure the new school is a facility we all use."

Former Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "Whilst I recognised and understand the concerns of the objectors - Towneley Park is clearly a jewel for Burnley - these new schools along with the new Burnley College are a massive investment for the people of Burnley and will give us in a few years time educational facilities second to none."