PROTESTERS against a controversial school expan-sion have vowed to fight on after building plans were passed.

South Lakeland District Council's planning com-mittee yesterday (Thursday) passed plans for new teaching blocks at Dallam School, in Milnthorpe, with conditions.

After the decision, protester Janine Fletcher said that if the Government did not scrutinise the plans, she would seek a judicial review and said: "We will fight on."

The plans were to build a new vehicle and pedestrian access; a new science and music block; a new performing arts block; and a gym, sports hall and changing room. Interested people packed into the council chamber in Kendal Town Hall, and strong views were heard in a tense but controlled atmosphere.

Protesters cited increased traffic, more dangerous roads and the loss of "rare moths", views, privacy, mature trees, and increased noise and light pollution.

But the committee granted the plan in principle with conditions on car parking, the availability of playing fields and keeping vehicle numbers down, by nine votes to one.

Mrs Fletcher spoke for 300 people and blasted SLDC for breaching policies on green belt' land, normally kept free of development.

She said the separate identities of Milnthorpe and Ackenthwaite were threatened: "You will unite two villages and create a town. Do you want to create Ackenthorpe or Miln-thwaite?"

Four hundred and thirty letters of protest were cited but SLDC's director of strategy and planning Lilian Hopkins said some came from unknown addresses.

After the meeting, Dallam School's assistant head teacher Richard Simpson said he was very pleased: "It means the school facilities can be better in the future."

The Government Office for the North West will now be asked if it wants to scrutinise the decision. If it does, the final decision may be taken out of SLDC's hands.