BOTLEY Primary School is going to be able to expand to take in 60 extra pupils Oxfordshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee yesterday approved the proposal for the Elms Road school.

But the committee took on board concerns raised by the community about the impact the decision would have on traffic in Elms Road.

A petition signed by 11 residents, talking about existing issues in the cul-de-sac, was presented to the committee, and councillor Bob Johnston said the school would have to work with parents to tackle drivers who stop outside the school unnecessarily.

He added: “I know this area extremely well. My son used to go to the nursery school on the site.

“I think it is really a question of the school talking to the parents, because we were always encouraged to use the ample parking on the other side of the main road and then walk down.

“You just have the minority of extremely selfish, self-satisfied parents who insist on driving all the way down this very congested road.”

The plans were approved, but officers were instructed to ask the school to work with the nearby health centre and parents to tackle traffic.