A WOMAN has lodged a complaint against a private school -- because children are too noisy in the playground.

Now environmental health officers at Ribble Valley Council are set to monitor noise levels from the playground, part of Oakhill College, Whalley, when youngsters return from their summer break.

Annette Shaw, who lives in a cottage next to the school, hopes her complaint will lead to the school relocating its playground.

If her complaint is accepted the school could be required to take noise reduction measures such as planting trees. Ultimately, the council has the power to prevent children playing close to her home. She moved into the house -- the only one near to the school -- in 1987. Two playgrounds, one for the nursery department and an area used by youngsters attending the prep school, are right next door to her home.

She claims she lodged her complaint after the noise became "unbearable" during the summer and youngsters began peering into her house.

She said: "All that separates me and the playgrounds is a small wall. It just isn't acceptable.

"I appreciate youngsters have to play somewhere but when I first moved here there were just a hundred or so pupils, all secondary school age.

"Now the youngest pupils are about two and go to the nursery. It is a problem for me because the breaks are staggered so there is a lot of noise for a long time. I would like to see them introduce a shrub bed in between the playground and my house to shield me from their noise and their eyes.

"They have 12 acres of land yet both playgrounds are next to my house."

The main school is on summer break and headteacher Phil Mahon was unavailable for comment. Staff at the nursery complex, which is open all year round, were unaware of the complaint.

Mrs Shaw stood up at a meeting of the planning and development committee at Ribble Valley Council on Tuesday and opposed a planning application for a two-storey building at the college, which would have been near to her home.

She added: "That would make things worse. Surely more classrooms means more pupils."

Claims that 13 windows would overlook her home were backed up by councillors.

Whalley member Joyce Holgate said: "The school has 12 acres of land. Surely it could go someone else and not next to this house. The windows would mean people could overlook this woman's garden and house, which isn't on."

A total of 18 planning applications have been submitted to Ribble Valley Council since 1977.

A spokesman for Ribble Valley Council said:"I can confirm that a noise complaint associated with the premises has been received.

"The complaint details noise from the children in the play area during break times, which are staggered.

"The complainant expressed concern that additional classrooms would make the problem worse.

"At this time it is impossible to investigate this and substantiate any noise nuisance due to the summer recess.

"Monitoring will being when term begins and appropriate action taken."