The Pembroke local council is objecting to the building of a new private school on “virgin land” 100 metres away from an existing State school.

Residents have already shown their disapproval, with some of them putting up signs around the earmarked site, or on their house facades, reading “Keep it green” and “No build zone”. Others have registered as objectors.

The outline proposal by CHS (Chiswick House School) Ltd, was filed for the construction of a primary school with 36 classrooms, outdoor sport facilities and 82 parking spaces. The area falls within the development zone.

For residents, the unbuilt site off Gabriele Henin Street is “one of the last remaining open spots in the area” and the project will only increase the existing traffic.

When their signs were pulled down by a council representative yesterday, the residents made new ones and put them up again around the site.

Some complained that the ones on their own facades had also been removed, but Mayor Dean Hili said there had been some misunderstanding.

The council, he insisted, was “four-square in agreement with the residents in opposing it”.

However, while the council had no argument with signs put up on private property, unauthorised signs in public spaces were frowned upon.

Dr Hili told this newspaper the council was opposing the proposed development on “virgin land” and it expected the site to maintain its natural state.

The new school would, meanwhile, be built close to the existing primary school and a childcare centre.

According to the council, Pembroke already hosts several schools and sports facilities, and the traffic generated for an additional 880 students will increase the existing traffic problem.

The council is also complaining that the proposed parking would not be enough.

The council has sent a list of complaints to its architect, and an objection will be officially filed in the coming days.

One of the objections is that the school has already caused a traffic problem in another locality, because it is situated within a residential zone, and it does not make sense to relocate the problem to Pembroke.

Meanwhile, although the site is not scheduled or protected, it is situated right next to a Natura 2000 site and acts as a buffer zone there.

If the Planning Authority eventually considers approving the proposal, the council will call for the upgrade of the junctions that lead into Pembroke and St Patrick’s. Gabriele Henin Street should also be widened if the project is given the green light, according to the council.