MORE than 4,000 residents opposed to a controversial new Sikh academy in Stoke Poges have signed a petition against the plans – with a councillor branding it a “poorly disguised land grab”.

The proposals for a new school in the village have caused anger amongst residents fearful of the impact created by extra traffic and on the Green Belt.

Stoke Poges’ representative on Buckinghamshire County Council, Trevor Egleton, handed a petition in to the authority at this morning’s meeting.

And he took a swipe at neighbouring Slough Borough Council in the process, saying the authority was focussed more on additional housing instead of new schools.

Referring to the plans – set to go before South Bucks District Council’s planning committee soon – Cllr Egleton said during today’s meeting: “It will be situated in a very sensitive part of the Green Belt. Our ratepayers will have to pick up the cost from increased traffic.

“The school is needed in Slough, where they are forecasting demand for five secondary schools. They have no available sites for schools.

“Slough Council are exploiting the Free School Act to site their schools in Bucks, particularly on Green Belt. This is a poorly disguised land grab by Slough Borough Council.”

He added: “This petition has over 3,200 email signatures and in addition we have some 800 written objections – not too bad for a parish that has 4,000 plus inhabitants.

“It’s quite detailed so I don’t intend to read it but to summarise, in South Bucks there’s no demand for additional secondary school places and no public demand for a secondary school.”

The application is for plans to build a sports hall, a mixed martial arts dojo and stables for use by the school on an 11 acre site in a prominent position on Hollybush Hill.