RESIDENTS in the city centre have hit out at plans to build a school sports complex in their back garden.

They claim a planning application submitted by St Aloysius' College shows the £4.43million development would encroach on a small area of green space they believe belongs to nearby flats.

Members of Garnethill Community Council are opposing the plans and urging other residents to object.

They claim they were only notified about the application last week, days before a deadline for objections.

The application to build the sports complex was submitted on February 28 and ­appears to show the building will extend over the small garden used by residents in the neighbouring tenement.

A spokeswoman for the private school confirmed the development includes part of the garden which they believe is owned by the college.

She said they are now investigating claims the grounds belong to other parties.

Last week more than 60 people attended an emergency meeting to discuss the plans.

Jane Sutherland, chairwoman of the community council, said: "At the very least it is a profound discourtesy to not involve the community.

"The college is a campus within a community, not the other way around and we are being treated like it's the other way around.

"We are being treated like the dunce in the corner."

Community activist Bill Beckett said the proposed sports complex would block out sunlight to several homes in the area and would ruin their view.

He said he was "appalled" by the plans and the lack of community consultation.

Bill, who is also a member of Garnethill Community Council, said: "This has ­angered the local community and both the residents and the community council intend to block this from ­going ahead."

The spokeswoman from St Aloysius' College said: "The college has submitted a planning application for a sports hall to Glasgow City Council, for which the council issued neighbour notification to the relevant parties on letters dated March 19, 2014.

"There is no statutory requirement for community consultation for a development of this scale and nature.

"However, as the college is keen to interact with the local community, a representative from the school attended the Garnethill Community Council meeting on April 8.

"Following this, the college produced a full set of plans and photo realistic images for ­interested parties to consider at an emergency meeting of the Community Council just two days later.

"The college will continue dialogue with the local community and is currently reviewing and considering the relative options for the planning application."

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk