PLANS to expand a village school resulted in a head-on confron-tation between city planners and residents this week.

Local people waving 'Saves our lanes' banners were waiting as members of Lancaster City Council's planning committee arrived for a site inspection in Silverdale on Tuesday.

The demonstrators were objecting to plans to expand Ridgway Park School, off Gibraltar Road, claiming it will increase traffic problems on the area's narrow lanes.

At their meeting next Monday, councillors will be recommended to conditionally approve four applications by the school. But officers will advise them to agree that pupil numbers should not exceed 37.

Objectors point out there could be up to 60 members of staff working on a shift system and travelling along the narrow lane that has no speed restriction.

They also fear an increase in the number of delivery vehicles travelling down the nine-foot wide road, used by walkers, visitors and horse riders.

The road leads to the National Trust beauty spot 'Jack Scout' and eventually on to Jenny Brown's Point.

Objectors include Silverdale Parish Council, the National Trust and the Arnside and Silverdale AONB Landscape Trust.

"Already we get convoys of traffic, with care staff and teaching staff travelling up to ten o'clock at night," says objector Carole Bennett, of Gibraltar Cottage.

"The road is very narrow outside my cottage and I have to stop and listen before I go out of the gate."

Ken and Ann Kitchen, of Arnside, say they enjoy the walk down Gibraltar Road because it is suitable for Mr Kitchen's invalid scooter.

The objectors' views will be put to planners on Monday.

The four applications to be considered include the erection of a new school building, extension to an existing building for a dining room with bedrooms over it, extension and alterations to Milnthorpe Lodge and the erection of a rear extension to a summer house for bedrooms.

A spokesman for the council's planning services says that because the school is for children aged 11-l6 with emotional and behavioural difficulties, a high staff to pupil ratio was needed.