EXETER Tory hopeful Hannah  Foster says she hopes the dispute over the potential sale of  the school playing field can soon  be resolved.

 The prospective Conservative  candidate for the city said it was  important pupils at St Leonard’s Primary School had appropriate playing space but she  supported plans to build a new  deaf academy in the city.

As revealed  in the Echo,  Devon County Council is considering selling the grass sports  pitch behind St Leonard’s  Primary School to Exeter Royal  Academy for Deaf Education.

Around 1,300 people have  signed a petition against the  proposal.

The academy, in Topsham  Road, Exeter, wants to develop  new buildings on the former St  Nicholas School site in St Leonard’s.

The proposals would involve  sharing outdoor play areas and  a field with the primary school.  The sports pitch would be  changed into a car park and a  shared hard and soft play area.

Around a third of Mount Radford Lawn, a grassy area across  the road from the primary  school  which is owned by the  academy, would be a site for  residential accommodation for  student boarders and an  all-weather pitch.

 Parents are expected to ask  Miss Foster her opinion on the  scheme at a public meeting she  is hosting at Countess Wear Village Hall at 3pm on Friday.

She said: “It’s important that  we ensure that the children of St  Leonard’s have the appropriate  playing space that they can use  as pupils should do.”

She supported the academy  becoming a regional centre of  excellence for deaf education.

She said: “What the  academy  wants to do is very exciting for  the region. But the right people  need to start talking properly to  make it work.”

Halley Cohen, who has a child  at the primary school, said: “I  agree that it’s important to ensure children have the best facilities possible.

“Everybody agrees outdoor  space is important for fitness  and education. But I don’t believe selling 50 per cent of what  we already have for third party  shared usage is the right way to  provide excellent facilities for  the children of St Leonard’s.

“As things stand now, the  children can leave their  classroom, go out to play at playtime and any other time the  teachers feel it is important for  them to get out.

 “They don’t need extra staffing and there are no safety issues. It is very simple and accessible.

 “Offering the children an  off-site facility won’t deliver the  same experience.”

County council leader John  Hart has stressed no decision  has yet been taken to sell the  playing field.

In tomorrow’s Echo, Halley  Cohen gives a first person account of the campaign to save  the playing field.