OXFORD Conservative Association has hit out at an 'orchestrated attempt' to quash a refusal of a new city school.

The organisation said it was 'disappointed' at Oxfordshire County Council's threat to object to future housing applications if the Swan School is not allowed to open in September 2019.

As revealed in the Oxford Mail on Tuesday, education bosses sent a letter to Oxford City Council's head of planning before a committee reconsiders the 1,260-pupil Marston secondary school later this month.

Oxford Conservative Association said the decision not to grant permission for the school to be built on the Harlow Centre site was correct, due to the impact on traffic and cycle safety concerns.

But the group admitted it was 'concerned' at moves to overturn the decision, adding it was not in the interest of residents.

Oxford Conservatives deputy chairman Mark Bhagwandin said: “The city council’s move to review the planning committee’s decision makes a mockery of the established planning process and is a slap in the face of elected councillors who acted in the best interest of the people given the issues raised by the inappropriate proposed location of the Swan School.

He added: "County officials should refrain from issuing threats against the city’s housing programmes."