A controversial primary school being built on the old Surbiton Hospital site will open its gates for the school year in September 2012.

Lime Tree Primary School, in Ewell Road, Surbiton, is now accepting applications for 60 reception places and 26 part-time nursery places.

The £15m trust school will be provided by Surbiton Education Health Trust, which will also have a polyclinic on the same site.

The Liberal Democrat council won a narrow victory to have the school added to the site at a planning meeting in March last year.

The decision, which was opposed by all four Conservative councillors, follows a 297-signature petition from parents in Surbiton demanding new places in the area.

Cabinet member Councillor Liz Green said: “We are delighted to have this new school opening, particularly in view of the current financial climate.

“I am excited about the opportunities this will bring to children and I am also pleased something really positive is being done with the former Surbiton Hospital site.”

However, Oakhill residents were furious with the council for pushing ahead with the plans despite “huge opposition”, claiming a school and hospital on the same site would create traffic problems.

They also said the council refused to consider other sites for the school and failed to carry out a proper consultation with those living in the Oakhill area.

Graham Goldspring of the Oakhill and District Residents’ Association said: “This whole process has been politically motivated, pushed by Edward Davey and the Liberal Democrat council.

“There were nine or 10 other suggestions for the site yet none of them were ever considered. Why?

“The council will come back and say it has ticked the legal boxes but when you ignore the 60-odd objections to the proposal how can you call it a proper consultation?

“People have been led to believe that without the school they would not get a health centre because it was a joint application.

“Come next September when the school is opened the whole of Oak Hill will come to a complete stand still and we will see what they will do then. Probably nothing.”

The council will run an information evening in November to provide more information about the new school and answer questions from parents, details of which will be available through the council’s website shortly.

For further information, or to apply for a reception place starting in September 2012, visit kingston.gov.uk/new_ primary_school_surbiton.