RESIDENTS are campaigning against a new multimillion-pound academy using a popular park as its new school playing field.

Plans for the new 900-pupil Bohunt Education Trust academy in Broadwater, Worthing, were given the green-light because of a need for more school places. Planning permission was granted earlier this month and the first bricks will be laid over the coming weeks ahead of its opening in September 2015.

But residents are concerned about the academy looking to use the popular Manor Sports Ground as its playing field. The Worthing Borough Council-owned field has been available for public use since 1902 and is currently home to cricket and hockey matches, events and festivals.

Jane Coburn, of the Manor Action Group, said: “Councillors have kept reiterating there have been no agreements with the academy. I have read, along with many others, the minutes from a recent planning committee meeting where it clearly states that it has not been widely advertised that there would be restrictions to public access made to the Manor. If it were, there would be considerable public outcry.

She added: “It’s a historic field used by an array of people over the years.”

Neil Strowger, Bohunt headteacher, told The Argus yesterday: “Bohunt Education Trust is currently exploring a number of options to enhance outdoor sports for Bohunt Worthing and the local community.”

West Sussex County Council announced yesterday it had been given an additional £2.1 million from the Government towards building the academy.

The money was secured on top of £30 million already given for investment in schools in the town and brings the total budget for the new academy alone to £16.7 million.

A public meeting by the Manor Action Group with Worthing councillor Bryan Turner will be held at the church hall in Queen Street, Worthing, from 7pm on Friday.

A spoksman for Worthing Borough Council said academy representatives will be at the meeting to discuss their concerns over any potential shared use of Manor Sports Ground and Queen Street Car Park.

He said the planning application did not include Queen Street car park or the Manor Ground, although the supporting statements indicated that there would need to be some shared use of both to meet the academy’s future car parking and sports and PE curriculum requirements.

He said the changes to the two sites would require full consultation and in addition any shared use of the Manor Ground would need the agreement of Worthing Cricket and Hockey Club as it has a licence from the council to use the Pavilion and two cricket squares.

He added: “The Academy is keen to engage with the local community to agree how best to use facilities close to the site which balances its educational needs with the needs of the local community.”