by Dave Burke

dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk

A determined bunch of school children are fighting a developer's plans to build flats right next to their wildlife garden.

The youngsters, from South Norwood Primary's school council, claim if the development in Birchanger Road goes ahead their lessons will be disrupted.

The 24 pupils add that the new homes would cause traffic problems and ruin the sensory garden - which only opened in Easter.

They have the full support of staff and parents have been getting behind their campaign.

School council members are taking their opposition all the way to the Town Hall, and will be writing to Croydon Council chiefs urging them to reject the proposals.

A letter from pupils to the council reads: "Say yes to education, say no to disruption and danger."

When the Advertiser asked the pupils if they thought their campaign would pay off, each one enthusiastically shouted: "Yes."

Among the tiny protestors is seven-year-old Dacia Bailey, who said: "We're worried because it might distract us from our work."

Rhys Malhado, 9, added: "There's going to be trucks going in and out and there's going to be a lot of blind spots.

"The pedestrian safety wouldn't be good."

The school council members have been putting up posters and drumming up support among their fellow pupils.

Morgan Myers, 8, said: "I'm a little bit sad because it might mean we can't learn as much."

Teacher Elaine Humphreys has been bowled over by the students' dedication to the cause.

She said: "Most of the parents are concerned, we've had a lot of forms back.

"The older children are worried as well, they know what an impact it would have.

"It matters to them and when they see that they are getting a voice, they appreciate what they can do.

"It's important that they have this voice, and hopefully the council will take notice."

The planning agent responsible for the application says he is surprised about the protest.

Martin Lloyd, from Mel Designs Associates, in Chipstead, said: "It's not a block of flats, it's a single-storey development.

"The main building on the site will stay, that's going to be redeveloped, and the boundary wall will remain the same.

"The reason it's been designed as it has was to allow the neighbours to be totally unaffected by the development.

"We haven't tried to cram the site, we've tried to be as environmentally friendly as we can."

Mr Lloyd also stated that the developer would be happy to work with the school to show how the building would be constructed in an environmentally-friendly way.

Consultation on the development - which would contain two two-bedroom flats and four one-bedroom flats - will end on December 18.

A decision is expected by Croydon Council next month.