THE chairman of governors at a Whalley private school has urged parents to lobby councillors over their decision to reject plans for a new classroom block for the second time.

Tony Baron told pupils, parents and guests at Oakhill College's annual prizegiving ceremony: "These elected councillors, by denying our application, have temporarily thwarted our plans to improve college facilities for the benefit of the children. Could you, the parents, ask them why?"

And Oakhill College principal Phil Mahon said that despite the decision the school had no intentions to lose its 'unique, caring, family atmosphere' or become a large school. He added: "I cannot believe that a Conservative council would turn down a developent plan for an independent school, a plan which they knew was desperately needed by the school to provide improved facilities for children of the Ribble Valley.

" A plan that was opposed by only one of the school's neighbours who had made a previous complaint of noise against our nursery children."

He said: "We are trying to improve facilities for present pupils and it will enable a small number of additional pupils to join the school.

"Oakhill College is in no mood to be defeated as we are determined that pupils and parents will get the facilities they deserve."

The decision to refuse plans for a two-storey teaching block, which would partly take over some existing single storey accommodation, was almost unanimous among members of Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning committee and followed objections to the plans led by just one resident.

Councillors also heard a staff room and toilets were also included in the plans, a revision of those rejected for the first time in August this year.

Mr Baron, who attended the meeting, told councillors: "The project is vital to the future of the college". And he emphasised the inconvenience and difficulties facing children and staff.

Every effort had been made to successfully draw up a scheme acceptable to the officers and the objector, he added.

But Whalley parish council and the committee raised objections to the height of the building and the provision for alternative playground space, and supported the objections of college neighbour Annette Shaw, who claimed her privacy would be invaded.

Mrs Shaw, who claimed at the August meeting that noise from the children disturbed her, said: "I am not against educational improvement but think this development is too much and too intrusive. The playgrounds were not next to my house when I moved in. There has to be an alternative to a massive complex."

Principal Mr Mahon added: "We have the right to appeal against this decision, and we will.

"We are hopeful that our appeal will be successful."

Planning committee chairman Coun Richard Sherras said: "We received a number of letters from parents of children who attend the college in support of the application.

"They were received too late."

He added: "The committee refused the development as it was inappropriate for the countryside."