A SCHOOL has unveiled plans to build a new sports hall, but neighbours fear it will make parking problems worse.
The Castledon School in Wickford, a special education needs and disability school, currently has a “critical shortfall” in the delivery of PE classes, due to a lack of space inside.
The only space indoors to teach PE is also used for assemblies and dining, which creates a constraint on teaching PE.
It is hoped the new two-court sports hall, which will feature changing rooms, will solve the crisis.
The hall will be built on green belt land if Basildon Council approves the proposals.
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However, nearby residents have raised serious concerns over the height of the building, and fear parking chaos could follow.
John Turner, 71, of nearby Bromfords Close, which the sports hall will be accessed through, said: “We’ve already got parents and teachers parking on the road during the day and at drop off times.
“Residents along here have had enough.
“The sports hall will be double the height of the current school buildings, so it could overshadow us here.
“We don’t want the school to become overdeveloped.
“We already have concerns about emergency vehicles getting down here.
“Cars are causing damage to the kerbs at the moment.”
Last month, rubbish was uncollected on Bromfords Close as waste crews were unable to get past the parked cars.
Residents believed the issue had been caused by parents and teachers leaving their cars on the road.
Bosses at the school insisted that they had told parents to be considerate of where they park.
Planning documents from the school read: “Greater use of sports facilities off-site has been explored, for instance the community sports facilities at the nearby Bromfords School.
“These facilities are currently used for those pupils with low to moderate needs, however these arrangements incur regular school expenditure and impose significant logistical and safeguarding measures to manage transport and safety while off-site.
“A suitable, purpose-built sports hall on the Castledon site would therefore offer a safe and secure environment available to all students and be designed to fully serve the school’s SEND needs.”
Simon Holliday, headteacher at the school, was contacted for comment.
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