A PETITION with more than 100 signatures opposing plans to build a primary school on the Surbiton Hospital site was submitted to the council this week.

Kingston council have announced proposals to develop a new healthcare building and a new primary school on the hospital site, in Ewell Road.

On Monday (15), residents went to the Guildhall to hand over the petition, which asks the council to submit the plans as two proposals, so they can support the new healthcare clinic but oppose the school.

The council are proposing to build a two storey building that would have capacity for 420 pupils and possible roof top play areas.

Former Surbiton Hill councillor Paul Johnston has been working with residents to put the petition together.

He said: "The petition is asking for these to be submitted as two proposals. We wish to support the clinic but oppose the school because there isn't enough room for a school that size.

"It's a very large school which would be a few feet away from another very large school at St Matthew's.

"There would be very poor access to the site, to Oak Hill and to South Bank and it would leave very little amenity space for those children to play in.

"I've heard they were planning to build a playground on the roof, which is very bizarre.

"Nobody is arguing that there is an immediate need for primary school places in Surbiton, but it seems they have put all their eggs in one basket with this plan."

The new healthcare building is proposed to be at least two stories high and would be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

If built, the school and the healthcare centre would be expected to share certain facilities, which could include a cafe, meeting rooms and a garden.

A spokesman for Kingston council, said: "We have received a petition.

"However no planning application has yet been submitted for this site.

"The council will consider how best the views expressed in the petition can inform the planning decision process for developing this site."