A HIGH Court judge could put a halt to a new primary school being built.

Campaigning resident Chris Law has permission from the court for a judge to consider a judicial review into a decision to build the school in Braiswick, Colchester.

Work has already started on the £5million school.

Essex county councillors voted through the plans in September and the 420 place academy is set to open this September.

The school site is bordered by Fernlea and Apprentice Drive.

Residents from both areas voiced opposition to the plans with concerns including the increased traffic.

Mr Law, of Fernlea, said: “The judge has granted permission to proceed for a hearing into a judicial review.

“That is listed for February 10 and we are now preparing for that hearing.”

The judge will decide whether to grant a full judicial review.

If the judicial review finds in Mr Law’s favour, the council would have to stop work and reinstate the land to the condition it was in before it started.

Meanwhile, construction of the school site is progressing at speed.

Piling work has been taking place and some of the access roads on the site have started to be created.

The school will be accessed via Apprentice Drive, on the NewBraiswick Park estate, and traffic will exit via Fernlea, a cul-de-sac off Bergholt Road.

The access road on the school site will only be open during the school run and will be controlled by barriers to stop other traffic using it as a through route.

The primary school is needed as other schools in Colchester are over-subscribed.

The Learning Pathways Trust will sponsor the academy, which is expected to create 52 jobs.

Funding for the twostorey building, which will have 14 classrooms, came from the Government, which contributed £4.2million, and the county council, which gave £800,000.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for Education and Lifelong Learning said: “The court will consider the claimant’s application for judicial review on February 10.

“Until then, works will continue as planned. If the claimant’s application for judicial review is successful, Essex County Council will consider its position on the development in light of the judge’s decision.”