THE blazing row surrounding plans to build a new free school in Caversham descended into “violent vandalism” this week when graffiti was scrawled across a protest banner.

Angry neighbours in Upper Warren Avenue have been fighting the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) decision to build the Heights Primary Free School at the derelict High Ridge site in their street.

Tom Curtin was so furious he put a banner up outside his home on Sunday opposing the proposed site, reading: “Do you want a 350-pupil school here?”

But within 24 hours, vandals had defaced it by scrawling a large

“yes” over the top of it and scribbling out the names of contacts

underneath.

Mr Curtin, an active member of Caversham Residents Against Inappropriate Development (CRAID), insisted the crime was a politically motivated act of vandalism.

The 64-year-old said: “We don’t have graffiti here, this was motivated by someone who was obviously in favour of the free school at High Ridge.

“This sort of violent vandalism is totally wrong. It is my property, it is my sign and it is my opinion. In a democracy I should be allowed my opinion. This is not Russia.”

The Heights Primary School Academy Trust was granted permission to open a 350-pupil school by the Department

for Education in May and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) bought High Ridge last month.

But the decision sparked fury with neighbours in the street and father-of-two Mr Curtin stressed the group is not opposed to the much-needed free school, but insisted that Upper Warren Avenue is the wrong place for it.

He said: “We are totally in favour of the free school, but putting it there is an act of lunacy.

“The road is a cul-de-sac, there are no pavements. It is a guaranteed fact a child will die on that road — this is going to be a road of death.”

But while Dan Pagella, lead member for property for the Heights school bid, condemned the vandalism, he said some people are frustrated at the force with which CRAID has opposed the plans.

He said: “We don’t want this divisive approach to these discussions which seems to have been imposed by some and don’t welcome people graffitiing banners.

“But we do welcome a calmer, more open-minded debate from all parties.”

Reading East MP Rob Wilson, who has been involved in discussions over the site between the EFA and the public, urged people to “remain calm and find a community solution”.