A “CAMPAIGN of intimidation” and “bullying” targeting parents at a free school in Caversham Heights is pitting neighbours against each other.

Residents have complained about “aggressive” campaigners asking them to sign petitions against building the Heights School at the controversial High Ridge site, in Upper Warren Avenue, while “scaremongering” leaflets and flyers have been shoved through their letterboxes.

The school opened at a temporary site in Gosbrook Road last month, but while a decision over its final location was expected last Friday it emerged this week the government body responsible for finding a permanent site for the school had stalled again.

But after a four-page leaflet entitled The Height of Nonsense was delivered by courier to 3,500 homes in Caversham this week, parents at the school feel the void of information is being filled with propaganda and aggressive misinformation.

One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There are a lot of elderly, vulnerable people here who are getting petrified and very confused.

“Our biggest issue as parents is the misinformation. The issue is for them to be informing not scaring people.”

Another mother, whose child also started at the school, which is housing the pupils in temporary accommodation at the former Caversham Nursery site, said the idea of a school is being trampled.

She added: “Everywhere you go it is aggressive.

“When you disagree you’re seen as not supporting the community, you’re a traitor or you’re in the wrong. It feels like we are being bullied.”

Battle lines were drawn in June this year when the Education Funding Agency bought the one-acre High Ridge site —with neighbours claiming it will cause traffic chaos and become a death trap for children crossing the road.

But this week the row was re-ignited with the release of The Height of Nonsense which was produced by Tom Curtin — formerly of Caversham Residents Against Inappropriate Development (CRAID). Reading East MP Rob Wilson branded the leaflet as “disappointing” and said neighbours should think about their behaviour.

He added: “The level of misinformation being circulated as fact to mislead and alarm residents is also hugely disappointing and reflects very badly on those responsible.”

But Mr Curtin denied he was spreading misinformation and bullying people, insisting the leaflet was simply letting people know what may happen.

He said: “We are left in the dark and blind by a highly secretive agency. To speculate is to call for debate and I think debate is a very good thing in a healthy democracy. Those who are trying to stifle debate should be ashamed of themselves.” Once the agency comes to a decision Mr Wilson has pledged to hold a meeting to discuss the outcome.