RESIDENTS turned out in force to protest at the council's proposal to rebuild a special school in a Stretford park - days before a crunch meeting.

Over 50 local people met on the land in Longford Park to examine at first hand the area that town hall chiefs plan to fence off for the new site of Longford Park special school and its playing fields. There would be a new road aimed at improving access to the area.

And last night (Wednesday) residents had the chance to put their objections to two Labour councillors on an executive committee, as the councillors decided whether to give the plan the go-ahead.

Speaking before the meeting, Mike Byrne, from the Cromwell Road Action Group, said: "We can't understand why Trafford wants to do this. The road is unnecessary, poses risks to our children and is frankly a waste of council taxpayer's money.

"Inadequate consideration has been given to the design and planning of the building and consultation has been woefully inadequate.

"We hope they will listen to our objections and ditch the road."

The scheme will take up part of a conservation area and the objectors say the proposal would mean the destruction of many mature trees and the loss of a large open space that forms part of a wildlife area. A petition with 1,179 signatures objecting to the re-siting of the school was sent in to the planning department earlier this year.

Protestors say the land affected is used for games by the scout, cubs and beaver troops based in the park, as well as joggers, walkers, footballers and cricketers. Children also use the area as a safe place to play.

The outmoded Longford Park special school is currently on another site at the park. It is surrounded by the conservation area and has a shared single-track access road, serving the school, cottages and the park.

Education chiefs have gained Government funding for the rebuilding project. An option to rebuild on the same site was also put forward, but the council believes this does not solve access problems.

It believes its plan will improve access to the park and opens the way for other improvements.

Beverley Dunn, the council's head of legal services, said the council had planning permission for the development and was now going though the legal process to appropriate the land - change it from leisure to educational use.