WINCHESTER residents remain concerned over plans for a new 'superschool' in a city suburb.

The county council wants to build a 420-place primary at The Westgate School in Cheriton Road, Fulflood.

But residents say plans to reduce congestion by creating 40 drop-off bays in Chilbolton Avenue are flawed.

Liz Darlison, 47, of Cheriton Road, said: “They are only on one side of the road so you will have to manoeuvre into a space on a busy road with cars driving very fast. Plenty of drivers will not want to drive all the way down to the end of the road and they will do u-turns.”

Other residents questioned the distance between Chilbolton Avenue and the new school.

Gina Petford, of Bereweeke Road, said: “It's not a good solution at all. The spaces are so far away from the school so parents won't want to drop off children in bad weather and they will drive into Cheriton Road to drop them off. The people who will use the spaces are parents from Western Primary and you can't blame them because of the parking problems at Western already.”

Chris Jones, 61, retired, of Cheriton Road, added: “I think it is a desperate attempt to fix a problem.”

Residents also slammed plans to move Rotherly Nursery across the site, because it means losing large playing fields and replacing them with a smaller artificial grass area.

Mrs Petford, whose three children have attended Rotherly, Western and The Westgate, said: “The nursery will lose all the quality outdoor space and a natural grassy area. The children get to go out into lovely green spaces and people know that is an important factor when they decide to send their children here. The council is doing away with something unique and important to a child's development.”

But Cllr Roy Perry, children's services chief, said the Chilbolton Avenue measures would make a difference.

He said: “As far as I'm concerned the Chilbolton Avenue spaces are additional parking provision which will ease congestion and it's better to have them than not to. Both schools will continue to do their best to encourage parents to walk with their children rather than use cars.”

He added moving the nursery was necessary to make the scheme viable and meet demand for school places.

He said: “We are doing our best to make provision for the increasing number of children in Winchester. If someone has a solution that causes no problems for anyone then we would be pleased to hear it.”

A council committee will decide the application on June 6.