CAMPAIGNERS against the Croft School development yesterday delivered a petition containing more than 800 signatures to the council.

The petition, the latest step in residents’ fight against the bid, was accepted by Labour leader, Coun Jim Grant.

Residents claim their views have been overlooked in the planning process and the 420-pupil primary school will be intrusive, result in gridlock for Old Town, lead to loss of green space and have dangerous access points. A survey of local residents was also accepted.

Campaigner Kareen Boyd, of Hesketh Crescent, said: “The signatures are both pre and post the planning committee. The next stage will be to present the survey and petition to the full council on March 29, and subsequent to that, to David Cameron and Ed Miliband.”

Mrs Boyd said the survey of more than 200 local residents was highly-structured and was based on a 53 per cent response rate.

“The process is flawed and the public have not been listened to,” she said.

“Something isn’t right and this will be discussed in our residents’ roadshows running through April across Swindon, which will have residents’ organisations participating.”

The campaign has continued, despite planning permission being granted in November for a school on the site, off Marlborough Lane. Campaigners also claim the development is going ahead despite the opposition of more than 200 people and independent experts.

Coun Grant will pass the survey and petition on to council officers to be put on the agenda for a debate at the meeting. He said: “The Labour group support a review of the process by which the decision was made, which this petition is asking for. Whether the decision was right or wrong it should have been determined in accordance with the planning process, and we are not sure that took place on November 29.”

The Labour group will hold the review if they take power in the local elections on May 3. But they will press for it happening before the council meeting.

Coun Grant said: “We have given an undertaking to the Croft campaigners that we will hold the review should people return a Labour council. Before that though we are hoping the full council sees fit to support the petition.”