Controversial plans to build a new primary school in Surbiton were the subject of a heated debate at NHS Kingston’s annual general meeting this week.

Chief executive David Smith took questions from a packed audience at All Saints Church, Kingston, who were keen to know about the proposals for a new polyclinic on the Surbiton Hospital site.

Nick Kilby, a former Kingston councillor, asked NHS Kingston boss David Smith whether he would consider submitting two separate planning applications, each for the proposed Surbiton hospital and the new school.

But Mr Smith said he had received advice from planning consultants this would be “too complex” given the overlapping elements of each project.

Mr Kilby responded: “I can give you examples of equally difficult sites that had been brought into planning with two different applications. There are a lot of issues that residents have. It is not about not wanting schools, it is about asking the right questions.

“My concern is the process is going to be held up because of concerns about the school. The community is going to feel very guilty if they are perceived as baddies.”

Mr Smith declined to comment further, but said he would be happy to have a private meeting with Mr Kilby to discuss the matter further.

The polyclinic would be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week and provide GP services, urgent care, blood tests, ultrasound and X-rays.

The proposed two form entry school, expected to cost about £8m, would be built on surplus land left over from what is used for the polyclinic.

In a public meeting about the plans in March, Kingston Council’s head of education spending said the council would have to go through a competitive process to establish what providers would potentially run the new school.

Anne Redparth said: “What we know from the national process is there are likely to be far fewer people interested than for a secondary school. I think we will have more clarity about who the provider will be.”