A COUNCILLOR has warned an inquiry that ‘we are in real trouble’ over the number of cars estimated at Oxford’s first free school.

City Councillor Roy Darke raised his concerns over transport issues at the proposed Tyndale Community School.

It was during a site visit yesterday on the second and final day of an inquiry into the refused planning permission for the school on the site of the former Lord Nuffield Club.

The school has been refused permission for change of use, but will be allowed to open for a year under permitted development rights. It will need full planning permission to stay open beyond the first year.

Chapel Street Community Schools Trust appealed against Oxford City Council’s refusal, and a two-day hearing opened on Wednesday at Oxford Town Hall.

After spending a day listening to arguments, the hearing moved to the site in William Morris Close, Cowley.

A group of 15 people, including councillors, the school’s principal, local residents and planning officers, hiked through knee-high grass to see the planned outdoor areas of the school, which the council claims are not sufficient for its needs.

Planning inspector David Morgan was shown the busy junction of Barracks Lane and Hollow Way which is used to access the site, and possible shortcuts pupils might take on a footpath from Beresford Place, and between Leafield Road and Turner Close.

Principal Liz Russo showed the inspector a room for community access, and said talks had begun with groups including Florence Park Children’s Centre about using the space.

She said: “We want to be as open as possible because one of our slogans is: The school at the heart of the community and the community at the heart of the school.”

The key points of contention are over highways issues, with the two parties disputing the likely number of pupils coming to school by car, loss of open space, and lack of external play space.

Nigel Weeks, for the school, told the inspector: “The idea is there will be staff and possibly students as well in the drop-off point so children can get out of the car and be supervised into the school.”

But Oxford city councillor Mr Darke said: “Even the lower estimates of 80 to 120 cars queueing in a 20-minute slot is in my view a problem.

“If it is 200 or 250 cars, we are in real trouble.”

Miss Russo said the school day would start earlier than at most local schools, at 8.30am, which could ease traffic problems.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will make a final decision on the appeal.