PARENTS behind plans to open the Heights free school in Caversham have attacked Government officials after they installed huge gates at the entrance to its proposed site without asking neighbours.

The Heights Primary School Trust say the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) decision to construct the metal gates in Upper Warren Avenue last week has been “incredibly unhelpful” and that they were not consulted on the move.

The choice of the site — which is known as High Ridge and was bought by the EFA in June — has been highly controversial, with neighbours arguing it is unsuitable for a 350-place school.

Former Reading Borough Council leader Andrew Cumpsty this week wrote an open letter to the press, saying the 8ft tall gates were “more akin to the entrance to a high security prison” and accusing the trust of running a “quest to ruin a beautiful part of Caversham”. But trust spokesman Dan Pagella said: “It’s a great shame that Andrew Cumpsty has again chosen to pursue a critical line of enquiry through the press rather than engaging directly with the trust.

“The gate he’s referred to was installed by the Education Funding Agency without our knowledge. With several reports of individuals breaking in, the EFA’s contractors appear to have been instructed to install the gate in the interest of health and safety but they’ve clearly failed to consider community feeling or indeed the planning process.

“This is incredibly unhelpful when emotions about the school’s permanent site are running so high. We are awaiting details of their proposals to rectify the situation and look forward to seeing a better solution installed.”

The primary school, which was approved by the Department for Education in May, is set to open on a temporary site at the former Caversham Nursery in September, with the EFA hoping to submit a planning application for the High Ridge site later this year.

Neighbour Harriet Scott said workmen arrived and installed the school gates last week, drilling holes into the ground for the giant green posts.

She added: “I think it’s just a bit of a shame they didn’t say they were starting this. I would’ve been more happy if they sent a letter through to let us know.

“If they are going to make all this effort to build a fancy new primary school I would’ve thought they would pick a site which was right and not totally inappropriate for the neighbours, parents and children.”

A spokesperson for the Education Funding Agency said: “The existing gate was replaced in response to local residents’ concerns about the security and condition of the site.

“We will, of course, address any planning issues with the local authority.”