BUNGLING officials broke planning rules by placing mobile classrooms too close to homes.

A shortage of primary school places in Waltham Forest led George Tomlinson School to agree to take on 30 extra pupils in September.

Council officers, staff and governors at the school who mistakenly believed planning permission had been granted, agreed where the classrooms should be placed and they were introduced in November.

But after a complaint from a resident it was found permission had not been given and rules had been broken.

The school, in Vernon Road, Leytonstone, will now have to move the classrooms closer to the school and there is a plan to apply for retrospective planning permission.

A Vernon Road resident, whose garden backs on to the 10ft high blue classrooms, said those living near to the school received a notice advising them not to park in Vernon Road for a few days in November, but were not told what work was going to be carried out.

He said: “I was really surprised to see a massive crane at the bottom of garden and a building going up.

“They cant just do things like this without consulting people.

“I have not been living in Waltham Forest long but the quality of life will go down in the borough with decisions like this.

“The school is there to provide a service to the neighbourhood and part of that is talking to neighbours – they are not being very considerate.”

Cllr Chris Robbins, cabinet member for children, said: “Discussions are continuing between the council, school staff and governing body to address this issue with minimum impact on pupils’ education.

“I would like to thank parents and neighbours for their understanding and patience with this issue.”

The mistake comes to light just weeks after a council consultation document warned that nearly 600 five-year-olds in Waltham Forest will have no primary school place by 2012 unless urgent action is taken.

A rising birth rate, immigration and increased pressure from the Government to build homes are behind the projected shortfall.

As many as 20 new forms of entry are needed to avert the crisis, and teachers, governors and parents are worried about the prospect of large numbers of children being taught in temporary classrooms.

More worrying is the fact that, according to the consultation document, capital resources to tackle the problem are “scarce”.

But Mr Robbins has insisted there is enough money available to address the problem.