The controversial site for a new free school in Richmond will be debated at a full council meeting this week, after campaigners submitted a petition.

More than 1,000 people signed the petition, which is calling on the council to find a "better site" for the new Deer Park School.

Bellevue Place Education Trust (BPET) wants to open the primary school at London House, Lower Mortlake Road, from September 2017.

Until then, the trust plans to open for two academic years at the Richmond Adult Community College building in Parkshot, Richmond.

But campaigners, who visited the proposed permanent location last week, said London House was unsuitable for a school because of its proximity to the A316.

Mary Stephens said: "We had 1,000 signatures weeks ago, but the council rejected our change.org ePetition for reasons of their own, so we had to collect another 200.

"This was an easy task as so many local people recognise the unsuitability of putting a primary school on the London House site at Manor Circus, on the dangerous, polluted A316."

Another issue raised was the lack of space for a playground, with a cage on the roof being considered as potential play space provision.

Diana Collins, from Richmond, said: "Where are the children going to play - up and down the A316?"

The group claims to school will generate a high amount of traffic along the main road, which is already used by 34,000 vehicles a day, according to the Department for Transport.

Campaigner Jane Harrison said: "These signatures mean that the council must listen to our argument and debate the subject at their meeting on July 7.

"If they still insist Manor Circus is the only possible site for the school, over 1,000 people will wonder why one of the richest boroughs in one of the world’s richest countries, doesn’t have the political will to invest in decent schools for its children."

The proposed permanent site was announced after plans for another proposed free school in East Twickenham stalled late last year.

At a public meeting in March, residents expressed their opinion that the RACC site could make a viable permanent location for the school.

The debate will be heard at a council meeting at York House, Twickenham, on July 7.