CONCERNED neighbours have objected to a secondary school’s plan to expand its car park by 34 spaces over a fear that lights would shine on their homes and gardens.

A planning application has been put forward by Nunnery Wood High School in Spetchley Road in Worcester to build a 34-space car park as the over-subscribed school plans to expand by 150 pupils in the next couple of years.

The school said it wants to expand its car park to avoid further issues on the already-congested Spetchley Road which is used by students and staff at Worcester Sixth Form College, County Hall and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mark Skyrme, director of business and operations at Nunnery Wood, said more spaces were needed to accommodate casual music teachers and part-time exam invigilators

He said: "The new proposed plans will provide a much safer layout for access around the site as well as increasing the number of spaces available. In an effort to control the open nature of the site it is proposed that the new parking will be access controlled at key times.

"This is vitally important to ensure that we can eliminate issues which might force vehicles to start using the main Spetchley Road.

Objector Royston Roberts of Spetchley Road said the school had not revealed whether it would be installing more lighting to cover the new car parking spaces and he was concerned more would cause light pollution near his home.

He said: “Car parking already exists on the side and rear of the school which is not fully utilised during the day.

“Why tarmac more grass when these spaces are available?”

Michelle Wickenden, also of Spetchley Road, was concerned by more lighting polluting her home and garden in her objection.

She also wanted to be reassured by the school about how it would manage the car park in the holidays and at weekends.

Mr and Mrs Jones of Spetchley Road, also objecting, said: “The gardens along this part of Spetchley Road are designated a wildlife corridor and we are concerned that the introduction of more lights and tarmac incrementally chips away at the ability of wildlife to move freely in the area.

“We are disappointed that alternative sites do not appear to have been explored, whether within or adjacent to the school’s property.”