A PUBLIC meeting will offer a platform for residents to discuss any concerns about Oxford's new Swan School.

Members of the public are welcome at St Nicholas' Primary School at 6.30pm tonight, for a 6.45pm start, to talk about the proposed 1,260-pupil secondary school with councillors and neighbours.

Oxford City Council is now considering consultation responses for the free school, which would replace the current Harlow Centre in Marston.

Councillors Mary Clarkson, Mick Haines, and Mark Lygo are due to attend the meeting tonight to hear from residents and answer questions about the planning process.

Old Marston resident Tony Greenfield, who helped to organise the meeting, said: "Residents are very concerned about the aftermath once proposed school is built, if indeed it goes through.

"There are so many flaws [with the planning application]."

He raised concerns about increased traffic, parking, and pollution as well as the accumulative effect of new housing, including at Barton Park and Christ Church's plans for 750 homes nearby.

Mr Greenfield added: "Raymund Road, Arlington Drive and possibly other roads will be used as overflow car park.

"Parents will use the estate for dropping off children, as they do now, but will be greatly increased.

"Residents' drives are blocked and it is bedlam twice a day. This will worsen."

Swan School bosses have previously reiterated the need for school places in the Marston area, and have said the school should not have a significant effect on traffic or pollution as most pupils will cycle.

Last week Paul James, chief executive of the River Learning Trust (which will run the school) said: "We are seeking to do all that we reasonably can to address concerns, being guided by resources and by the advice of the county council's traffic experts."

The Swan School proposes opening and closing later than most schools, in a bid to ease pressure on school run traffic.

It would also use wardens to ensure cyclists are given priority over motorists, who will have to cut across a busy cycle track to enter and exit the school.

Critics and cycling groups have already raised serious concerns about the access road, and Mr Greenfield described the cycle path as 'one of the most heavily used cycle tracks in the country'.

He said his own traffic survey, carried out on Wednesday between 7.35am and 9.15am, recorded 754 cyclists and pedestrians using the path.

The resident backed calls for an underpass to be built instead, so cyclists and pedestrians can navigate the route safely.

However, Oxfordshire County Council said an underpass would be difficult and has backed the school, noting a 'vital' need for new school places. 

Mr Greenfield said the need for more school places was recognised but the proposed site was in 'the wrong place'.