COMEDIAN Benny Hill may be a past pupil but residents living opposite his old junior school aren't laughing at plans to put up luxury flats where lessons used to be taught.
Neighbours in Bellemoor Road, Shirley, Southampton were angered to hear that Orchard Homes had lodged an application with City Council planning bosses to build 14 two-bedroom flats at an old teaching annexe opposite Shirley Junior School.
Many fear an influx of professionals in the two-storey development would add to existing traffic problems.
The controversial proposal has been given an added twist after it emerged that the building of a new hall at Shirley Junior School largely hinged on planners giving the green light to developers.
An application by Orchard Homes to build nine two-bedroomed flats in another part of Bellemoor Road was approved by planners in April last year.
Local homeowners who campaigned against the previous building plans fear a precedent was set which could lessen their chances of winning the current development battle.
An anonymous Bellemoor Road resident, who has one child currently at Shirley Junior School and another an ex-pupil, said the latest application's link with funding the new school hall had split parents and residents down the middle. She said: "I would love the school to have a new hall but you have to ask at what cost? It would be far better to have fewer properties on the site which would still generate money towards the hall."
Another local resident, June Kelple, said: "The new development will cause absolute gridlock - it can't go ahead. This is going to affect a lot of people but, under planning laws, only homes facing and next to the proposed flats are being consulted.
"We will work tirelessly to make sure that everyone who wants to speak on this has a chance to."
Some concerned residents have also written to Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead in a bid to gain more influential support for their stance.
Graham Beck, a director at planning consultants Luken Beck, which represents Orchard Homes, said: "We are aware of concerns over traffic levels and have commissioned a traffic impact assessment. The assessment will be completed in a few weeks time and it will be sent to the city council's planning department for its consideration."
A Southampton City Council spokeswoman said no date had yet been set for the application to go before the planning committee.
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