A DISPUTE between a private school and more than 1,500 residents has blown up about school extension plans and school run parking problems.

More than 1,500 residents from Norton, near Stockton, have signed a petition opposing Red House School plans to build a school block and alter a Grade II-listed Georgian building.

Many of the residents fear the school extension will add to traffic problems on Norton's green.

Dozens of protestors are expected to make their point to members of Stockton Borough Council planning committee during a site visit at 3pm on Thursday.

The council will make a decision on Friday.

The protestors object to the school's plans to knock down part of a school wall, replace a building and build a new block.

They say it would lead to an increase in pupils in the junior school from 328 to more than 500. The school denies this.

Trevor Davidson, who lives on the green, said: "There's 328 pupils but only 47 actually live in Norton and less than 40 walk to school.

"We have 253 cars arriving every day and the situation is often horrendous. There's even been instances when fire engines and ambulances cannot get through and we can simply not have any more cars.

"We've got a lovely green but we're going to be left with a worsening traffic situation, a carbuncle of a school block on site and a Grade II-listed building partly destroyed."

Headteacher Chris Allen denied there were plans to increase numbers of pupils at the school.

He said the buildings were simply to improve facilities and relieve over-crowding.

He said the school wanted a layby so a schoolbus could be used and to create more parking spaces in the school.

He said a 1960s building by the green would be destroyed and a building more in keeping with the area would be built.

He said: "I actually find it quite bizarre that anyone could think these plans will not actually improve the area."