A call has been made made to scrap plans to build a school in South Wimbledon for fear of kids' safety.

A planning application is currently waiting judgement that if approved, would allow work to begin on Harris Academy Wimbledon's permanent school in High Path.

But former Cabinet Member for Schools London Borough of Merton, Peter Walker, says an air pollution study published earlier this year is being overlooked.

The study, carried out by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, identified 50 of the most polluted schools in the capital.

On the list was Merton Abbey Primary School, which occupies land on the same street that the new Harris Academy would be built on.

"If Merton Council’s planning committee in October, approves plans to build a new secondary school on the adjacent land the action would be a crime committed against the children and residents of this part of London,” Mr Walker said.

“There is now clear evidence that such a development would seriously endanger the health of not just the 350 young children currently attending Merton Abbey Primary school but also to that of the 1,100 pupils at the planned new school and the residents living nearby.”

In the mayor's report it also said that Merton Abbey's principal, Michael Bradley, was "very concerned about the impact that the additional school on High Path will have on the transport network and air quality."

But a spokesman for Harris Academy says there is nothing to worry about.

“As part of the planning process, independent analysis of the air quality on the site was commissioned," he said.

"This has raised no concerns about the site."

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He added that special fencing and landscaping along Merantum Way would also reduce vehicle emissions.

“Our much needed new school was heavily oversubscribed by local parents in its first year and we were delighted to expand the number of places on offer in order to cater for the high demand," he said.

"We want to build on this and make a positive contribution in providing outstanding education for local children over many years to come.”

A council spokeswoman said they had been been working closely with the Department for Education and the Harris Federation to bring forward the school.

"The proposed permanent site at High Path is subject to a planning application made by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, which aims to create much-needed school places, and will complement Merton’s existing Good and Outstanding schools which are the best in the country for progress," she said.

"The council worked closely with Harris, the ESFA and other stakeholders to identify the site which we believe is suitable and appropriate.

"We take air quality concerns seriously and when making recommendations to the committee, planning officers consider air quality against national and local policies and require adequate mitigations to be put in place where air quality has been questioned.”