HOWLS of protest failed to halt plans for a new primary school as councillors rubber-stamped the controversial proposal.

Wokingham Borough Council's planning committee threw its weight behind plans for a single-storey primary school at Winnersh Farm but only after enduring a torrent of criticism. The Winnersh Emmbrook Residents' Action Group mounted a strong opposition at the meeting on Wednesday last week arguing the site, which is on the Emm Brook flood plain next to the M4, is fundamentally unsuitable.

Member Christine Rodriguez claimed Thames Valley Water has not backed the application and said: "Although it is considered low flood risk it's sited next to the flood plain and they plan to pump water from the building site into the local sewers. The drains are already inadequate and this will put many houses at risk of flooding. How can you approve an application without a solution?

"We also all know that an estimated 170 extra cars would back up through Woodward Close. Once a school exists there's little which prevents parents driving through."

Fellow member Ben Couzens added: "We made a point about noise [from the M4] affecting the school children and the quality of teaching. The other point that was ignored was locating the car park for the school across the road, which wasn't addressed and doesn't seem very safe. It's like they had a script and they were sticking to it no matter what."

Residents have expressed grave concerns about traffic problems because the school will be reached via the Reading Road-Woodward Close junction, which is notorious for rush hour jams.

John Grimson, Winnersh Parish Council planning chairman, said: "The junction is already very congested and will become significantly and progressively overloaded when a school is built.

"There's also a bend in the road where numerous residents report a number of vehicle near misses close to where the school would be."

Borough councillors attached a raft of recommendations including a 20mph speed limit, a yellow box junction outside the school, installing barriers to prevent travellers from camping in the fields and improving an incomplete stretch of footpath in Woodward Close.