A NEW school and housing estate at Glebelands, Newport, will create "gridlock", some city councillors said yesterday.

But the planning committee backed the design and access plans of a replacement for the two crumbling Durham Road schools.

One half of the site - currently used as a leisure area - could be used for a 648 pupil school with space for 143 cars. The other half could make way for 153 homes.

But councillors said too much traffic would be funnelled into the riverside site.

Councillor Alan Perry, of St Julians ward, said: "I'm concerned about the traffic in the whole area. It will be horrendous."

And Councillor Noel Trigg, said: "This committee turned down plans for an extension to a commercial garage nearby because of traffic problems. But what will this bring? It will be gridlock."

Protesters said access via the railway underpass at Turner Street and through traffic lights from the East Usk Road was inadequate.

But a highways spokesman said the extra traffic could be soaked up. He said a study by consultants showed only "minor" changes to traffic flows in the area were needed.

A replacement school for Durham Road Junior and Infants Schools has been badly needed for over 15 years, but the Glebelands plan has been dogged by claims that the site is contaminated.

The Environment Agency is satisfied with reports into groundwater contamination. But councillors will see reports of further contamination studies before any building work can start.

Councillor Ron Jones, chairman of the planning committee, said: "Under no circumstances would we put children in an environment that wasn't safe."

John Martin, chairman of the Glebelands Action Group, handed the committee 183 objections to the plans.

He said: "The views of the parents have not been considered. There are parents in St Julians who will never let their children go to school on that site."

The school already has outline planning permission, which means that the principle of building a school on the site has been agreed. Yesterday Councillors Noel Trigg, Les Knight and Naomi Macey voted against the