Fury at Wolverhampton Grammar's 'ludicrous' infant school plan
Furious residents hit out plans to build a new infant school on the site of one of the city's top schools as 'ludicrous' and claimed the council had lied over consultation.
Protesters made their feelings known at a heated planning meeting over a bid to build a multi-million pound infants school in the grounds of Wolverhampton Grammar School.
More than 60 letters of objection have been received about the application which residents claim the school is trying to push through without sufficient discussion.
Concerns have been raised about traffic congestion and child safety, with protesters saying a new school was not needed.
There were cries of 'lies' when a planning officer told the committee that all residents who had written opposing the scheme had been sent letters about the revised plans.
The school in Compton Road wants to build a two-storey infant school for 264 four to eight-year-olds off Gamesfield Green, including two car parks and a mini football pitch with floodlighting.
Highways chiefs are insisting on road improvements because the development would increase traffic at the junction between Merridale Road, Gamesfield Green and Aspen Way, especially at peak times.
The grammar school has promised to pay £200,000 towards the cost. The type of junction is still under consideration by the Department of Transport but would likely be either a roundabout or traffic lights.
Councillor Harman Banger was angry that little or no progress had been made since the last meeting. He said: "We made it very clear at the previous committee the need for a robust traffic response that deals with the congestion issue.
"This is not an industrial site, it's a school and children's lives are on the line. We asked for a robust plan and we got five or six lines in a report."
Councillor Anwen Muston called it 'a complete waste of time', saying she had 'major issues' with the lack of traffic management proposals.
Councillor Judith Rowley raised concerns over the cost. She asked: "Is £200,000 part or the whole payment? If more money has to be spent on the scheme, where is it coming from?"
The application was deferred so that the committee can look again at the highway implications.
Philip Sims, chair of the board of directors at Wolverhampton Grammar School, was 'disappointed' over the postponement.
He added: "The multi-million pound project would create new jobs and support the city's increasing demand for infant and primary school places, so we will now take time to reflect on their reasons."
