Controversial plans to demolish Surbiton Hospital and build a polyclinic and primary school on the site divided opinion at a council meeting.

Many residents had their first chance to see the images of the hospital and school at a meeting of the south of the borough neighbourhood committee on Wednesday evening.

But criticism centred around the proposals to "cram" both a school and a hospital on the site in Ewell Road.

Robert Lewis, a retired research consultant in Langley Road from Oak Hill Residents Association, said he was taking legal advice.

He said: “We are not against in principle. We are against the way it is being shoe horned on to the site. There are other sites. The finances of this are completely shrouded in mystery.”

Alan Percival of Kings Drive said: “You can’t enjoy your property quietly with 400 children arriving and dispersing.”

Councillor Karen George said: “It’s going to be absolute chaos.”

But schools campaigner Paul Sloan said a delay in granting planning permission would throw back the school’s opening for years since the problem of a lack of primary school places began to emerge.

He said: “That will be eight years or more than the life span of the average primary school child. There are many parents of one-year-olds, two-year-olds and children not yet born. If you reverse the whole process again you’re all individually responsible when these parents come and batter down your door in five years time.

“The rights of 38,000 in Surbiton should not be denied by the 200 or so who live locally.”

The development control committee at Kingston Council will make a decision on the planning application on March 3.