CAMPAIGNERS are calling for support as council chiefs meet to discuss plans for a new school campus to be built on green space.

The Save Posties Park campaigners want to stop Our Lady and St Patrick's High School being built on the park.

And they say they now have the backing of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which says the site is a flood plain.

Last May, West Dunbartonshire Council ­announced plans for a £21 million high school and identified seven possible sites for the campus.

Posties Park, which is bordered by the rivers Clyde and ­Leven and is used for the ­annual Scottish Pipe Band Championships, has now been chosen as the ­preferred site.

But campaigners claim it is valuable green space and are determined to save it.

Rose Harvie, secretary of Silverton and Overtoun Community Council, said: "We would like the council to reject this recommendation.

"From a planning point of view the proposal is a ­significant departure from both the Adopted Local Plan and the Proposed Local ­Development Plan, as the site is protected by at least four policies.

"It is also immediately ­adjacent to an International Nature Conservation site and an Inner Clyde Special Protection Area because of the over-wintering redshank bird species."

Save Posties Park has now gained more than 1300 signatures of support on paper petitions and 600 on an online petition.

And it also has backing from Sepa.

A spokesman for Sepa said: "Based on the information currently available, Sepa would not support the development of a secondary school at this location as significant parts of the site lie within the sparsely developed functional floodplain.

"Development in these areas is contrary to the avoidance principle, as defined in Scottish Planning Policy. We have advised consultants that it is likely that Sepa would submit an in-principle objection on flood risk grounds to a planning application proposing a new school at this location."

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: "The council is unaware of what information was provided by the Save Posties Park campaigners to Sepa to comment on, but it is untrue to state that the proposed site is on a flood plain as the site and access road both lie above the nearby 200-year flood plain.The Committee meeting has been moved to a larger venue to accommodate any members of the public who wish to attend."

A Special Meeting of the council is to take place in Denny Civic Theatre, Dumbarton, at 10am on Wednesday, January 8.

Councillors will vote on the proposal and the campaign group is calling on locals to attend the meeting to show their support.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk