Frustrated residents, councillors and a Bromley MP have joined forces in a fight against plans to build a school on a treasured local park.

Havelock Recreation Ground on Havelock Road has been earmarked as the permanent site for La Fontaine Academy, which opened in temporary accommodation at Princes Plain, last September.

The school, which specialises in French, must vacate its current site in July 2016 as it is needed to expand Princes Plain Primary School.

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) has been working with Bromley Council to find a permanent site for the school and identified the park as its preferred choice.

But residents and Bromley Town councillors fear losing a valued green space and suffering traffic chaos on the busy surrounding roads if the plans go ahead.

Mum-of-four Donna Klander, 34, of Friends of Havelock Recreation Ground, said: "It’s where we walk our dogs and where our children play.

"The residents here are really upset.

"We just want to keep our field as it is because we all use it and love it.

"It’s not the school’s fault. We are not against the school. I really feel for the children."

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Nearby residents gathering to lay a heart on the park

Joyce Way, 78, who used to live in nearby Canon Road, said: "My children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have all played in that park.

"It’s the most stupid idea I have ever heard. It’s the wrong place."

Bromley Council’s executive had been due to decide whether to release four acres of the land to develop a permanent building for the school at a meeting, last week.

But the item was withdrawn from the agenda pending a fuller consultation over the site’s suitability.

Councillor Will Harmer said a door-to-door survey had shown more than 90 per cent of residents in the surrounding area objected to the proposals.

He said: "Although we fully appreciate the school’s need to move to a new site we do not see this as an acceptable option.

"With the increasing amount of development we are seeing in the surrounding areas, our open green spaces and parks are treasures we must preserve."

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In a statement on his website, Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill said: "The Bromley Town councillors and I are all in favour of a new school to serve the growing demand in Bromley, but there can be no doubt that Havelock Rec is absolutely the wrong site."

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A petition against the plans has received more than 1,000 signatures.

But another petition set up in support of the park as the school's permanent site has been signed by more than 400 people including La Fontaine headteacher Sebastien Chapleau.

He wrote: “I'm signing this petition to support the dozens of families who might otherwise not be able to get a school place for their children in Bromley Town Ward.

“I'm also signing this petition to support La Fontaine as it wishes to help make Havelock Recreation Ground an amazing place for people from the whole community to enjoy.”

News Shopper has contacted the school for comment.