Angry residents have urged developers to scrap plans for a major new housing estate close to a village school.

Residents of Moresby Parks fear that traffic and flooding problems already faced by the village would be increased if proposals for 100 houses on land off School Brow, either side of Moresby School, are given the go-ahead.

Parent Paul Kelly told a public meeting that the development would be "devastating" for the school community, while fellow resident Norma Lockhart said the planned estate "is far too large and should not go ahead". Others described School Brow, on which junctions to the new estate would be located, as a "race track" currently in terms of traffic volume and speeds.

However, town planner Julie Diamond, on behalf of the applicant, said the scheme would "bring real and genuine benefits" to Moresby Parks, while alleviating long-standing problems, including flooding.

The plans have been lodged in principle with Copeland Council, whose planning panel will visit the site before taking a decision, expected to be at the end of October. To date, the council has received a 144-signature petition and 39 individual letters of objection to the plans, plus two letters of support.

Ms Diamond told the meeting that based on a traffic survey carried out on the applicant's behalf, the estate would have "no impact on road safety" on School Brow; a claim widely challenged by residents.

Mr Kelly said: "The survey has shown misleading information as it was carried out in the last week of school term [July 7 to 14] when many walk to school. In reality, it's a nightmare road."

Included in the estate is the provision, by the applicant, of a new car park for the school, which the applicant claims would solve a long-standing congestion problem.

Headteacher Ross Peacock told the meeting that, contrary to information provided to the applicant by Cumbria County Council, the school "is operating at capacity in terms of pupil numbers".

On flooding and drainage, Laura Young, a resident of Station Yard, said the sewerage system "cannot cope with the houses that are there at the moment". The meeting also heard the the plans fall outside an area currently designated for housing by Copeland Council.

Ms Diamond said: "The development is appropriately scaled and logically located; it would enhance the village and alleviate some long-standing problems. The village would be boosted by the new residents coming in, in addition to further housing options for existing residents."

Moresby Parish Council will decide at its meeting tonight whether to support or object to the scheme.