A COUNCIL had to pay legal costs after it withdrew from a judicial review over whether it could keep a temporary car park on a field next to a school.

Magor and Undy Community Council took Monmouthshire council to court over a decision to keep, without planning permission, a temporary car park adjacent to Magor Church in Wales school.

According to Magor council, Monmouthshire conceded the action, leaving them to pay Magor’s legal costs which they claim amounted to £18,000.

Community council chairwoman Carole Hopkins told the Argus it fought the action as the field had been an open amenity area for many years and was public open space.

"We have very little green space here," she said, adding the land used to be used by local sports teams.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire said the council decided to use the site to boost the amount of playground space at the school, which had fallen under recommended levels after improvements were completed.

He couldn't confirm the amount of money the council paid to cover the Magor council's legal costs, but said the action cost the council over £20,000.

The land was originally re-surfaced over in August 2008 while renovations were taking place at the school.

Following the judicial review the council has now applied for planning permission to continue to use the land as a play area with new fencing and a replacement footpath.

More than 40 objections and a petition against the move of more than 40 names have been received by the council in response to the plan, while more than 60 comments were made in of support.