A WINTERBOURNE school is being urged by the parish council not to fence off the whole of its 26-acre playing field.

At a packed council meeting on Monday, Winterbourne councillors joined the playing field row by backing a residents' campaign against proposals by the Ridings High School to fence off all the Hooper's Farm playing fields.

They told residents they would now pressure the school to compromise and leave a large proportion of the field unfenced and open for recreational use.

Winterbourne parish and South Gloucestershire councillor John Godwin said he could not see justification in the school fencing off the whole field.

He said: "On one hand I realise the pressure the school is under to protect its pupils, but on the other hand I am not convinced that there is a big enough argument to fence off all the 26 acres of land.

"I am not even sure that the school uses all the land at any one time.

"The local residents have a case; the whole site should not be fenced off."

In a motion, the council stated that a middle ground should be found between the protection of pupils at the school and the recreational needs of residents.

It has sent letters to the head teacher and governors of the Riding School and South Gloucestershire's director of children and young People, Therese Gillespie, calling for urgent discussions between interested parties to find an acceptable solution which meets the needs of the community and the school.

Spokesman for the residents, Tony Harding, 66, told the Gazette on Tuesday he was happy with the council's support.

He said: "Thanks to the persistence of our campaign I am happy to say we have got the parish council and three South Gloucestershire councillors to understand our position.

"They have now given us some support and I hope that discussions with the school over the proposals will reopen."

Mr Harding added the campaign was now in a much-improved position than before the council backed it.

A suggestion by Therese Gillespie that the school take on the recreation ground instead of Hooper's Farm, were turned down by councillors and residents alike at the meeting.

Matthew Rees, spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council, said: "We are pleased that the parish council recognised the school's need for adequate and safe facilities for its pupils.

"The council is now keen to press ahead with plans to organise a meeting with representatives from both the parish council and the school.

"A solution suitable to all parties will then be presented to local residents."