PLANNING permission for a controversial Free Faith school in Stoke Poges has today been granted by the government.

The Khalsa Secondary Academy has been allowed to operate from Pioneer House in the village on a temporary basis since last September.

Plans to make the arrangement permanent were turned down by South Bucks District Council.

But today the Department for Communities and Local Government announced an appeal against that decision had been successful.

The academy, which is operated by the Slough Sikh Education Trust, has been the subject of a lengthy campaign from Stoke Poges residents who raised concerns over traffic issues and noise problems.

Opponents have six weeks within which they can challenge the appeal decision.