A health club’s application to extend parking down a school road has caused controversy.

Colets Health and Fitness in Thames Ditton want to concrete over the grass verge alongside Thames Ditton Infants School to provide 12 extra parking spaces.

The consultation period for the plans in St Nicholas Road has been extended to June 29 and had already generated more than 70 responses for or against the plans.

The school itself raised concerns that the spaces were located close to the year 1 classrooms and governors were worried about pollution, noise and disturbance for children.

Colets employees said it was unacceptable for staff to be forced to park off site when the spaces were full and that the health club was a valuable community asset.

Many of the objectors said Elmbridge’s new core strategy 2011 called for a reduction in car use, suggesting health club members should be encouraged not to drive.

At the same time, a 66-space car park in Ashley Road, Thames Ditton, is minutes away from the club and those against the plans felt staff should use those facilities.

One objector wrote: “There is a perfectly good car park owned by the council which is seriously under-used and where every day there are at least 40 spaces free – over three times the number sought along St Nicholas Road.

“The rates are very reasonable. As a retired person I can walk from the car park to Colets in six minutes.”

They continued: “Surely the staff of a health club can walk?”

Thames Ditton resident Colin Fitzgerald was among those to voice supports for the plans.

He said: “I am a great believer in a community-based operational company and Colets has breathed life into Thames Ditton with a high local employment level and has become a central part and focus of our village.”

View the plans at Elmbridge.gov.uk, under the code 2012/0298.