AN HISTORIC document may help campaigners in their battle to stop a secondary school being built on a playing field.

For the past year, South Ruislip residents have fought a plan to erect a new school in Sidmouth Drive playing field. They say the area is protected under the Green Chain legislation in Hillingdon Council's Unitary Development Plan.

But an 88-year-old covenant recently unearthed by a local householder could provide the ammunition they need to kill off the threat as it restricts the site to use as public open space.

"The council wants to build the school on this land simply because they own it and they won't have to buy a site," said Don Ticehurst, chairman of South Ruislip Residents' Association. "We now want the proposals to be withdrawn from December's planning meeting and we will not allow any building to be done on the site when it has a covenant protecting it.

"The council must go to court if they want the restriction lifted and we are ready to go to court as well to challenge any plans."

The covenant, from 1914, was placed by King's College in Cambridge, which originally owned the site. It remained in force after the site was sold to Ruislip North Urban District Council.

The document was discovered by June Law, who lives in Thurlston Road. Ms Law found a map to show exactly where the covenant lies in building plans for a social housing development which never took place.

"Everyone knew that the land was only restricted to public use but nobody had any proof," she said.

Mr Ticehurst added: "The site is totally wrong for a school especially as we have three nearby. Plans should be made for a different location instead or further expansion on our existing schools."

A copy of the covenant has been sent to the council's chief executive, Dorian Leatham.

A council spokeswoman said: "The contents of the letter are currently being investigated by legal services."

By.Nina Palmer