A GROUP of residents is campaigning to stop a major £6 million development being built on conservation land and a playing field at a South Lakeland secondary school.

Residents living near to Dallam School, Milnthorpe, are opposed to a four-stage project including a new entrance to the school that will cut through protected green gap land designed to separate communities.

The school has lodged an outline planning application with South Lakeland District Council for the development that will include a second entrance to the school, in addition to the one on Haverflatts Lane, with road narrowing and a mini-roundabout.

Phase one of the extension will involve the construction of a 90-space car park and a science block. The project would also involve the construction of a performing arts block, gym, changing rooms, teaching block and a sports hall.

Residents, who have formed an action group called CASPAR (Campaign Against School Plan and Redevelopment) and started a petition, claim the extra traffic caused by the new B6385 entrance will be dangerous and say the car park is unnecessary.

Milnthorpe resident Janinne Fletcher said: "The proposals are being put forward to us as a foregone conclusion. It is a massive overkill and that is why people are up in arms.

"We realise that the access to the school is unsafe and nobody wants to see a child killed. However, there are alternatives to a new entrance, such as walking children from the bus stops."

Head teacher Steve Holdup said Dallam was a popular school and that needed to be reflected in continuing improvements to the buildings.

"The original school was intended for 300 students but we have grown," he said. "This has resulted in more traffic on the Haverflatts Lane entrance which is dangerous."

Residents are also concerned that work will cut through part of a playing field as well as green gap land between Ackenthwaite and Milnthorpe, specially protected to keep villages intact.

Mr Holdup said the existing football pitch on the site would remain but part of the playing fields would be built on.

"The development is going to be on the green gap but we are very sensitive to the need to retain some of it," he said.

Cumbria county councillor Ian Stewart, who represents Milnthorpe, said: "Local people have known about the scheme and have been kept informed at all stages. Plans have been modified to meet their wishes. There is an understanding with SLDC senior planning officers that this cut into the green gap land will be the only development that will take place on it."