FURIOUS residents have accused education chiefs of misleading them over plans for a replacement Rawdon school.

They say original proposals for a new Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School were for a single storey but now have grown to a two storey building.

And they claim that the argument that their preferred alternative site was not big enough for a single storey school is now redundant.

Gerard Binks, of action group Rawdon Residents Against School Plans (RRASP) said: "They told us it was to be a single storey school for the millennium with access for all and now the plans show it is a double storey building, they've moved the goalposts."

The group already has the support of 400 residents who have signed a petition against the plan and is calling on people to write with their objections to Leeds City Council's planning department before the deadline of August 14.

The group has also taken on its own legal representation which claims it has solid reasons to fight the plan including the fact that the potential site is earmarked in the Leeds Unitary Development Plan as green space.

And Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Aireborough) added he was calling on Education Leeds to confirm that it would not consider a two storey building.

"We were told that the reason they couldn't build on the playing fields behind the school was that it would have to be two storey, and that would be impractical. Now they have put in outline plans for a two storey building on their site."

Education Leeds wants to build a new Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School, currently on Harrogate Road, on playing fields between the A65 New Road Side and Micklefield Lane.

At public meetings to discuss the proposals with residents, Education Leeds said primary schools needed to be single storey with easy access for all, including disabled people.

Residents and councillors argued that the new school should be built on the present school's playing fields but Education Leeds said the site was not big enough for a single storey building.

Now, outline plans for the New Road Side site show a two storey building although Education Leeds stresses it does not necessarily mean will be the end result.

But Coun Latty said residents have every reason to be concerned.

"I have no trust at all in people who put in for planning permission. If the outline planning permission goes through for two storeys then there will be a very good chance that they'll come back with full plans for a two storey and they'll have a good chance of getting it.

"People feel they have been lied to by Education Leeds as I do."

A spokeswoman for Education Leeds said: "These outline plans have been submitted as an illustrative proposal as to how the school and its facilities could fit on the site.

"This is not necessarily the final layout and is subject to planning approval. The contractor who is awarded the contract will determine this and submit this for final planning permission.

"It is normal practice to make a primary school single storey. However, during the course of Private Finance Initiative (PFI), there are other issues to consider such as land conditions and site constraints.

"The bidders take these into account when submitting their proposals for the scheme. There are still a number of options to be considered by bidders.

"The council and Education Leeds are committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities to enable schools to deliver the curriculum and will continue to work with local people to try and ensure that the new school meets the needs of everyone in the community."