THE fate of a proposed super school in Burnley is set to be decided by the government after the council vowed to continue its opposition to the plans.

Burnley Borough Council's executive has decided not to sell a piece of land on the site earmarked for the new Hameldon Community College, on greenfield land off Rossendale Road.

As part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future Programme Lanc-ashire County Council wants to build a new school on the site, However, Burnley Council claim traffic levels would make it unsafe for pupils, and the development would damage the environment of the area.

The county council is now expected to serve a compulsory purchase order on the land, which Burnley will oppose.

This means that unless county hall chose an alternative site, the school's future will be decided by the government at a public inquiry after Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, called the plans in.

Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "We have agreed to stick to our position and we are not going to sell the land.

"We will oppose the CPO and will fight them on planning grounds at an inquiry, "Unless the county council back down a public inquiry will be inevitable."

Hameldon College opened in September as a replace-ment for Ivy Bank and Habergham High Schools.

The existing school buildings are currently being used with the new school due to open in 2010.

A public inquiry could be up to three years away and Coun Birtwistle said Burnley Council had suggested three sites - opposite the cemetery in Rossendale Road, behind the former AIT aircraft manufacturing factory in Accrington Road or on wasteland off Melrose Avenue.

He added: "The sites are far more suitable but the county council have rejected them all and more or less said see you in court.

"They seem determined on a head-to-head fight."

The plans have split public opinion, with a number of protesters backing the borough council.

However, the Campaign for a Local Secondary School, based at Venice Street Community Centre, was set up in support of the county scheme.

Alan Whitaker, county council cabinet member for education said their choice remained Rossendale Road He said: "I am disappointed at the stance Burnley Council is taking.

"I think they are playing fast and loose with education and opportunities that come once in a lifetime.

"I am dismayed that they continue to adapt this attitude."

Chris Keen, spokesman for Campaign for a Local Secondary School, said the group wanted questions from Burnley Council about how much an inquiry would cost to fight and where the cash would come from if the authority insisted in fighting the plans.