THE GLOVES are off in the battle to relocate part of King David school to Prestwich.

Manchester City Council's executive committee met on Wednesday to give the proposals their seal of approval and agreed to move on to the next stage of the planning process.

The public are now invited to have their say on the plans to build a new primary school in Heaton Park, on a site off Sheepfoot Lane, during a formal consultation period lasting up to 15 weeks.

However, campaigns to prevent any building work in the Grade II listed park are hotting up. Heaton Park Action Group, formed to fight the plan, are to launch a hard-hitting poster campaign and website dedicated to gathering support for their objections.

Coun Ann Garner, who supports the group, said: "We are very, very concerned about the plans. The more people we talk to the more people are backing us. We are going to keep lobbying people and asking them to support us. There is a wealth of public opinion and people's voices need to be heard. Heaton Park was left to the people of Manchester and once one thing is built there, it puts every park under threat."

The action group have maintained that they are not against the proposal to build a new primary school for King David - just against the suggested location. Chairman of the group Julia Kennedy said: "This isn't just a case of 'not in my back yard'. Our argument is because the location is in a park. So much work has been done on the park to bring it back to its former glory with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and it is unacceptable to build a school there.

"Months ago we asked for a list of alternative sites that the council had looked at and we are still awaiting answers. We feel that they have not looked seriously at alternative locations."

Further objections to the proposals have also come from Heaton Park Trust and the Friends of Heaton Park, who have conducted their own consultation with park users.

In a report, the Trust states they received an "overwhelming rejection of plans to build a school or any other non-park building within the precincts of the park".

They are particularly concerned about revised proposals for the school to use sports facilities already planned for Heaton Park.

Initially, King David was to get its own playing fields and sports facilities but now the council is proposing they share those with a Sports Zone that is to be developed in the park close to the St Margaret's entrance.

The Sports Zone has been a specific item in the strategic plan for the park for some years and the Trust is concerned that the viability of the zone is now being linked to the school development.

The report states: "Regardless of these attempts to move the goalposts, this does not alter the views of the Trust. There should be no school development in the park regardless of what religion, sect or other persuasion it caters for... The committee believe that Manchester City Council should now abandon these proposals and look for a proper, viable site and not waste any more council taxpayers money on these proposals."

Following the executive meeting, Manchester's Lib Dems said they would call in the proposals for scrutiny due to the loss of green space and recommend that the council looks for a brownfield site.

Coun Gill Campbell, who initially welcomed the relocation proposals, said she would ensure there was a full dialogue between Manchester and Bury councils about the issue.

She said: "We don't want this to be rail-roaded through, however, I still think it is something positive, especially in light of proposed closures in the area."

King David School was unavailable for comment.