Campaigners are considering legal action after plans for a controversial secondary school in South Norwood were approved by councillors.

But time is running out for them to decide to apply for a judicial review of the decision made by Croydon Council’s planning committee last Thursday.

After the approval of Oasis Community Learning’s plans for an academy school on land next to Croydon Arena, building work is set to start next month and have it ready by September.

From June 2013: Oasis chosen as sponsor for controversial academy at Croydon Arena and CALAT sites

Frances Fearon, of Belmont Road, outlined the views of residents at the meeting and asked councillors to defer their decision until a study was done to assess the impact of the school on traffic in the area.

She told the committee approving the plan for the build, which takes in the current Ryelands primary school site, would also mean a loss of 2,300sq m of metropolitan open land.

She added only 29 children selected Oasis Arena as their first choice for September 2015.

Mrs Fearon said: “We are still deciding what to do and we are considering our options.

“A judicial review is the only thing that would work to overturn the plans.”

She added: “Ten years ago they turned down a leisure centre on the same site and it was thought to be totally unsuitable.”

Ryelands Primary School is set to move to a vacant Croydon Adult Learning and Training Centre site in Oakley Road and Sandown Road.