A row has broken out between a school and locals over what time one of the school’s gates is allowed to open.

Currently, Co-Op Academy Priesthorpe in Pudsey has permission to allow one of its gates at a ginnel off Rockwood Road to be open for 30 minutes at either side of the start and end of the school day.

But a retrospective planning application has been submitted by the school to allow it to open the gates until 75 minutes after the end of the school day.

The school says the measure is to help deliver after-school activities and reduce hazards caused by accessing the school’s main entrance from a main road.

But concerns have been raised over the issue, with local councillors claiming the volume of parents parking nearby has become a nuisance for local residents, with one local councillor claiming this has led to “threats of violence”.

The application by Co-op Academy Priesthorpe reads: “This seeks to vary the existing opening times of the ancillary access gate at the Rockwood Road entrance to the school site, to facilitate developed after school activities alongside our post-16 provision, to promote safeguarding and reduce the potential hazard(s) presented by the use of the main entrance from and on to the A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road.”

But the council has received more than 30 objections to the proposals from local residents and elected members.

One of which comes from local councillor and leader of the Leeds Conservatives group Andrew Carter who stated: “It is not a safe ginnel, there have been numerous issues for residents and for pupils, due to the high level of vehicular traffic collecting and dropping off pupils.

“The school, in our view, have only paid lip service to their duty of care to pupils leaving the school and to try and extend the hours beyond what was originally permitted is simply not acceptable. If the school management is incapable of organising a school day effectively that’s their problem and not that of the residents.”

Labour councillor Peter Carlil’s letter stated: “I categorically object to this application – and consider it extremely ill-advised to bring this application at a time when relations with the neighbouring residents on Rockwood Road are so poor.

“This exit to the school is not safe, either for local residents of Rockwood Road, or for pupils entering or exiting the school due to the severe amount of inappropriate parking, dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour that are completely unsuitable down such a small street.”

He added: “Residents already have to endure cars parked for up to two hours outside their houses, often blocking in residents’ driveways, and in some cases leading to threats of violence when asked to move to allow residents to exit their properties.”

As per the school’s original planning permission from 2008, it is allowed to open the gates 30 minutes prior to the start of the school day, and close them 30 minutes after the school day has started. It can then open the gates 30 minutes prior to the end of the school day before closing them again 30 minutes after the end of the school day.

The new proposals ask for permission to open 30 minutes prior to the start of the school day and close 15 minutes after the start; while it would reopen 15 minutes before the end of the school day and close 75 minutes after the school day has ended.

Despite the concerns, a report into the issue by Leeds City Council officers suggests the changes be allowed, stating: “It is considered that the variation of the planning permission to extend the opening time of the gate connecting Priesthorpe School to the Rockwood Estate, as detailed above, is acceptable.

“The proposal is considered to be policy compliant and it is not considered to adversely impact on the amenity of nearby residents and would not be detrimental to highway safety.

“Accordingly, this planning application is recommended for approval.”

Members of Leeds City Council’s south and west plans panel will meet tomorrow to decide whether to allow the changes in opening times.