A PETITION raising concerns over the impact of traffic due to a proposed school expansion has been handed to council chiefs.

The Leader reported previously how concerns had been raised over a planned expansion at Barker’s Lane Community Primary School in Wrexham.

Wrexham Council wants to increase full time pupil numbers at the school from 210 to 315.

But residents raised their concerns over a number of potential issues at a consultation, one of the most frequent the impact on parking and traffic outside the school.

Residents of Lisburne Grove, which comes off Barker's Lane and runs around the side of the school, have now delivered a petition to the council.

The document objects to the scheme on the grounds that it fails to address the vehicle trip generation likely to come from it, resident Mark Rees told the Leader.

He said: "Our kids went to the school and we support it expanding - we have no problem with that.

"The problem is that from what we can see, although we're being consulted by the council there's not enough attention to the infrastructure around the school - specifically their proposal involving putting an entrance on our street, which is essentially a cul-de-sac.

"The issue we have is that it will exacerbate what is already a problem with the number of cars parking around the school and coming down our road.

"This will force a lot of traffic down Lisburne Grove and they really need proper infrastructure for that. "We have elderly people living here who have grand children playing in the street and we have fears for them.

"We're trying to be reasonable and work with the council so we have organised this petition, which has 24 signatures - and is all of the residents in Lisburne Grove."

The petition states: "The proposal fails to effectively address the vehicle trip generation that is likely to occur from this proposed development.

"Specifically the residents of Lisburne Grove object to a proposal that includes the siting on Lisburne Grove of an entrance for vehicles or pedestrians.

"This proposal would inevitably lead to intensification of use of a cul-de-sac road not designed for heavier traffic.

"The existence of a sharp bend and vehicles passing from opposite directions will increase the danger to residents safety and also the safety of children and grandchildren who often play in this quiet cul- de-sac street.

"For the ageing population on Lisburne Grove the proposal increases the likelihood of parent’s cars parked on Lisburne Grove and thereby increases the fear that emergency vehicles cannot gain easy access to their homes

"Any plan that breaks the continuity of the existing hedge is objected to by the residents."

The council is urging objections be lodged by midnight on Thursday.

Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, said: “While we note the objections raised within the petition, many of those matters raised would be considered as part of a detailed planning application, assuming the proposed extension to the school is approved by the Executive Board when they discuss the statutory objection report, which is scheduled for discussion in July.”

Cllr Wynn added: “If anyone wishes to object to the proposed extension to Barkers Lane CP, then I would encourage them to respond to the Statutory Notice by the deadline of midnight on April 11.”