Stoke Poges Sikh school plan petition presented to government

A 5,000 signature petition against plans for a Sikh free school in a Buckinghamshire village has been handed in to Downing Street.

Khalsa Secondary School is proposed by the Slough Sikh Education Trust for a green belt site in Stoke Poges.

It said the 840 pupil school is needed for the Sikh community in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and west London.

Campaigners said the county does not need more school places and the village does not have adequate infrastructure.

The Slough Sikh Education Trust, which set up the Khalsa Primary School in the town in 2007, wants a school for pupils to continue their education, but has been unable to find a suitable site in Slough.

The chosen site on Hollybush Hill, currently occupied by Pioneer UK, is 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the primary school.

The trust, which secured the site in conjunction with the Department for Education, said it intends to cater for students from all backgrounds, with 50% of places prioritised for non-Sikh students.

It is due to open in September 2013.

Saera Carter, from Stoke Poges Parish Council, said Buckinghamshire already had a "surplus of [school] places" and village infrastructure would not cope.

"We don't need the school and we believe it should be placed where it is most needed," she said.

"The road where [it] will be located is a very small lane with no pavements and no streetlights so we believe an influx of up to 1,000 cars a day is just not safe.

"We also feel very passionate about protecting our green belt and keeping our village a village."

Chairman of governors for the planned school Nick Kandola said faith schools have much larger catchment areas than normal schools.

"The majority of the pupils will be bussed in so it will have minimal traffic impact," he said.

"It's the only site we've managed to find that the government supports."

The Department for Education said a final decision has not yet been made.