CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new £5million primary school in north Colchester will be examined by the borough council’s planning committee next Thursday, July 10.

Essex County Council wants to start building the 420-place Braiswick New Academy this summer on nine acres of land it owns.

But the proposals have already attracted strong opposition from two groups of residents, who claim their lives would be blighted by the development.

Access to the school would be via Apprentice Drive, on the New Braiswick Park estate, and traffic would leave via Fernlea, a cul-de-sac off Bergholt Road.

The access road will only be open during the school run and would be controlled by barriers to prevent other traffic using it as a through route.

The school, sponsored by the Learning Pathways Trust, is scheduled to open in September 2015 and would create 52 full time jobs.

The two-storey building would have 14 classrooms, a library, group rooms, a hall, a kitchen and staff and administration accommodation.

Funding for the project includes £4.2million from the Government and £800,000 from the county council.

A borough planning officer has recommended its councillors back the plans when they are discussed next week.

However, the councillors would be entitled to declare if they feel the plans are unacceptable or can ask the county council to amend them.

The planning committee meeting will take place at Colchester Town Hall at 6pm.