PLANS for 26 student flats next to East Oxford Primary School have again been backed by city councillors, despite strong opposition from parents and staff.

The west area planning committee originally granted planning permission to the Union Street development in November, but enough councillors opposed the plans for it to be brought before the planning review committee.

At the Town Hall on Thursday, councillors again backed the plans.

Parent governor Halima Banaras, whose children Khadija and Fatimah go to the school, told the Oxford Mail that councillors should “feel ashamed” of their decision.

She said: “We were all very disappointed.

“It is our school at the end of the day, we have got no field within safe walking distance, not enough staff parking and now we will be completely overlooked. The school has many vulnerable children, who are on the special needs register.

“They cannot be in close contact with strangers every day, who will be coming and going. It’s very disappointing.”

As reported in the Oxford Mail, ahead of the meeting chairman Tony Brett likened opponents’ criticism of students to sexism, homophobia and racism. He abstained in the vote.