WESTHOLME School’s chairman of governors has appealed to councillors to delay any decision on Tauheedul’s proposals for a purpose-built new primary in Blackburn until road safety concerns have been sorted out.

Brian Marsden spoke out as the borough planning committee prepared to consider the scheme tomorrow (THURS).

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The Tauheedul Trust’s withdrew its plans for a new £5 million Muslim primary school on Meins Road, Beardwood from the committee to address the concerns of Westholme, landowner Lord Alvingham and 70 nearby residents.

Blackburn with Darwen council planning officers have recommended councillors approve the proposal to build a two-storey complex on fields next to its girls academy in a 68 page item with a full page of conditions including traffic management.

Under the plan, pupil numbers will grow from an initial 240 to 630.

Mr Marsden said: “The speed with which this application seems to be progressing alarms me. We have no objection to the Olive School, but we do feel that the logistics of transporting pupils and staff into an already congested area have not been adequately assessed or planned.

“Our priority is children’s safety and that includes the Tauheedul pupils as well as our own.

“We have a number of key traffic points which we have asked the council to discuss with us and answer, and so far, we do not feel these genuine concerns have been satisfactorily answered.

“At Westholme we believe in the principles of collaboration, teamwork and open communication.

“Unfortunately, these qualities seem to be missing in the speedy, closed down approach that runs through this planning application.

“I do hope there will be no serious implications to this and the old adage of ‘act in haste and repent at leisure’ will not be the conclusion.”

Beardwood and Lammack councillor Mike Lee said: “I share Mr Marsden’s concerns. I have no objection to the school but there are problems over traffic generated to be sorted out.”

The Tauheedul Education Trust said in a statement: “Olive School is delivering outstanding education to children in the area and we want it to be the jewel in the crown of the community. Our application is recommended for approval and we eagerly await the decision of the committee.

“We are committed to working closely with local schools, residents and parents now and in the future.”