The borough's growing school places shortage was highlighted once again this week, during a public inquiry into a key redevelopment in north Kingston.
Land acquisition firm Goldcrest wants to demolish the disused Kingsgate Business Centre in Kingsgate Road, to make way for 210 student flats.
But the authority wants the site, which forms part of the council's North Kingston development brief, to be redeveloped with a primary school.
A three day public inquiry began on Tuesday at the Everyday Church in Kingston.
"Bullied"
Jonathon Rollason, from Trawling Heights in North Kingston (THINK), told the inquiry: "It seems to me as a resident that developers have bullied the council.
"The main reason we don’t want this to happen is because we need schools for our children in north Kingston. If we don’t we will have to bus them elsewhere.
"Put something in there that we actually need."
The inquiry comes after Goldcrest appealed to the Planning Inspectorate when Kingston Council failed to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission earlier this year.
The authority stalled over a potential land swap deal that would have seen Goldcrest hand over the site in return for the council-owned Canbury Place car park.
Last week, the council released a revised development brief last week, stating its preference for a primary school on the Kingsgate site.
Kingsgate Business Centre
The brief, which is open to consultation until October 27, states a desire to "create a new residential and education led mixed use quarter that will benefit the wider north Kingston area".
But Morag Ellis, respresenting Goldcrest, said the council was "changing its case minute-by-minute".
She added: "The council’s case apparently largely rests on a document which emerged into the public domain eight days ago."
John Parrish, from Canbury and Riverside Association (CARA), said: "We are very concerned there is not going to be a school on that site. There is a demand."
Anne Williams, representing Kingston Council, said: "There is an acute and urgent need for a new primary school in north Kingston, extending an existing one is not an option.
"There is a scarcity of potential locations in Canbury."
Opponents also argued the proposed height and vehicular access were reasons to refuse Goldcrest planning permission.
A final decision will be sent to Kingston Council and Goldcrest at a later date.
Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis said: "It’s not just north Kingston it’s the whole borough.
"We have to build something like 14 forms of entry by 2018.
We have got a lot of work to do. We have got to find sites where we can create new schools."
Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Green, leader of the opposition, said: "Building a new school is far better than expanding on our existing tight sites.
"The problem is that there are no massive new sites in north Kingston.
"We need to get that school."
Expansion
Meanwhile, two north Kingston schools are considering expanding in order to create 120 new places by 2016 to cope with demand.
Alexandra Infant School and St Paul's Junior School have proposed both becoming two-form entry primary schools, accomodating children aged four to 11 years old.
The proposals, still in their early stages, have been made after Alexandra took on an additional ‘bulge’ class in reception last year to help cope with the borough’s growing school place needs.
But the bulge class has not been carried through into neighbouring St Paul's, meaning an additional Year 3 class will have to be found by 2016.
St Paul's CoE Junior School does not currently have the space for an additional Year 3 class
It is proposed St Paul’s uses its current site in Princes Road to add two new classrooms and make modifications to its building.
Alexandra however, would need a separate site to place its Year 5 and 6 students.
It has identified Barnfield Youth Centre in nearby Parkfields Road - a 20 minute walk away from the main site in Alexandra Road - to be demolished, making way for a another site with classrooms, a hall, offices and cooking facilities.
If the plans were to go ahead, it would create 60 new places at each school.
Parents were informed of the plans in the summer.
Alexander Infant School took on a bulge class last year
Councillor Andrea Craig, lead for children, youth and adult learning, said: "It is ridiculous that a bulge class was put in one school without foresight that the second school was able to accommodate it.
"It is identical to the situation at Maple and St Andrew’s and St Mark’s [in Surbiton].
"We have got a lot to work out to make sure both of these schools remain outstanding and attractive to parents.
"We have got to find a solution that is good for everyone – that’s my challenge.
"It has been agreed in principle but it has to go out to consultation to residents and parents."
No planning applications have been submitted to Kingston Council to date.
Feasibility studies and a consultation on the proposals are expected to begin this term.
A Department for Education spokesman said:"We are facing an unprecedented increase in pupil numbers, and are supporting councils who have a legal duty to provide school places to all children in their area.
“We are spending £37.5million on creating new school places in Kingston until 2017, including £27.8million in this parliament.
“An extra 2,530 primary school places were created in Kingston between 2010 and 2013 – and the council has reported firm plans to deliver a further 510 by 2016.
“In addition, three free schools are due to open in Kingston next September – which will deliver 840 primary places and 1,818 secondary.”
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