CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to build a school on land at Towneley Park have hit out at claims that they are "flying in the face" of a silent majority who support the scheme.

Organisers of Towneley for the People said there were more than 1,500 people who had signed their petition opposing the site for the new Unity College planned as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future project.

The claims came after County Coun Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for children and young people, said earlier this week that most people were in favour of the plans.

Co-ordinator for Towneley for the People Carole Galbraith said: "To put the record straight: there is strong opposition to the county council's plans - some 1,500 people have now signed petitions to save Towneley.

"The delays have not been caused by the protesters but by the county council's failure to consult with Burnley people, its refusal to look at other options.

"As for county councillor Marcus Johnstone's retreat to the mantra of the defeated politician - the 'silent majority'.

Of those that we have approached to sign a petition, some 70 per cent are strongly opposed to the plans, 10 per cent in favour and 20 per cent undecided.

"We are the majority and that we are far from silent."

It had been hoped that pupils would have been able to move into the new site by September 2009 but this date is almost certain to be delayed by the public inquiry which starts in a few weeks' time.

Headteacher Sally Cryer launched a counter petition on the Downing Street website, to "tell the other side of the story" .

So far more than 239 people have signed up in support of building Unity College on the playing fields.

County councillor Marcus Johnstone, said: "It's impossible to say how long the inquiry will last.

"It would be three months or it could be 12, but I'm very confident we will win because our case is very strong.

"We and the planners listened to residents' objections and most of them have now been overcome.

"I do understand people's concerns, but this is a development that will benefit thousands of future Burnley generations."