CONTROVERSIAL plans to expand an Earley primary school were approved last night (March 1) in spite of growing safety concerns.

Wokingham Borough Council's planning committee approved the Aldryngton project by seven votes to two after parents, school governors and Earley councillors expressed their fears.

The multi-million pound redevelopment will see the capacity of the Silverdale Road school rise from 315 to 420, in order to provide sufficient school spaces to Earley residents and prevent children from travelling across boundaries.

Parents were particularly angry about the expansion, insisting the traffic problem around Aldryngton and Maiden Erlegh School will only be made worse.

Ian Head, chair of governors, said the safety of pupils was of paramount importance and the council should carry out improvements to make the area safer, following the incident in January which saw two children hit by a reversing car.

He said: "As governors we are legally bound to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of the pupils at the school. We wish to add our strong concerns in respect of traffic, parking and safety in the area around Aldryngton.

"The Council needs to make the area safer, particularly following the recent serious accident that involved two of Aldryngton’s pupils.

"To approve this application is to accept an increased risk to site users, something that Earley Town Council, Aldryngton School and the local community are not prepared to accept and we therefore ask you to reject this ill-conceived application in its entirety."

Earley councillors rejected the application last month, with Councillor Clive Jones leading calls for an entirely new school at Hatch Farm Dairies.

He said: "The council already own the necessary land and children would not have their lessons disrupted by building works for 18 months or more.

"The traffic congestion around Aldryngton would not be made worse by increased numbers and Aldryngton would not have to loose its swimming pool."

A surplus of 11 per cent is projected for school spaces in Earley by the time the project is completed and the council have rejected claims there will be an increased risk to pupil safety.

Councillor Charlotte Haitham-Taylor, lead member for Children’s Services, added: “Congestion caused by parents dropping their children at the school gates is a concern, but the vast majority of children choose other methods to travel to school.

“Currently some Earley children are allocated school places outside their area and these children are almost inevitably driven to school.

“Congestion can be reduced by additional capacity because it will inevitably mean more children will be allocated school spaces within walking distance.”

What do you think? Is the expansion of Aldryngton Primary School a good idea?