THE fate of a Jewish school set up unlawfully in an Edgware synagogue in 2006 still hangs in the balance after planning chiefs failed to reach a decision last night.

More than 100 parents and members of the synagogue in Mowbray Road packed out the council chamber at Hendon Town Hall last night to see councillors deliberate on the fate of the boys' school.

Residents are angry the school has been able tom operate from the premises, which is made up of two semi-detached houses in a quiet cul-de-sac, without planning permission since 2006.

However after 90 minutes of debate it was agreed to defer the decision until the next meeting to look at measures to mitigate problems caused by the youngsters.

Jeanne Stein told the panel residents lives had been blighted by increased noise, traffic and flooding since the school, which has more than 70 pupils, opened.

She said: “The road already has the well established Rosh Pinna Primary School with 147 students, but the increase in noise and traffic since this school was established has been intolerable.

“It is in constant use seven-days-a-week starting before 7am and ending after 11pm.

“Ever since there was a change of use to a synagogue all undertakings have been flagrantly flouted. “The noise levels are intolerable. Balls regularly come over the fences and neighbours are now being denied the enjoyment and privacy of their gardens.”

She added the tarmacking of the gardens as a playground has led to flooding in neighbours gardens because of a lack of drainage.

However, Mr Jaffe, a school organiser, said the school had been given a good report when it was inspected by Ofsted last year and pointed to a deficit in primary school places as reasons to let it stay.

He said all but one child of the school live within a 15 minute walk of the premises, and added a lot of noise is already generated by the neighbouring Rosh Pinnah school.

“As soon as it did come to our attention right at the beginning of the use we were in contact with the council immediately,” he told the committee.

“We're not proud it has not had planning permission but that's why it's important to us it's resolved now.”

The school was originally set up in a synagogue in Stonegrove but relocated after it outgrew the premises.

Several members of the six-strong committee expressed their anger at the school being set up without seeking permission and the fact it has taken three years for an application to be submitted.

Councillor Hugh Rayner said: “I've received many emails from many parents supporting this school. It's an established school that's doing well so you would expect parental support.

“Let us be quite clear the owners have ridden roughshod over planning laws, something which I'm very cross about.

“But, we're not here to place blame we're here to resolve a planning issue. Nevertheless it is something which has caused me a lot of sleepless nights.”

Councillor Agnes Slocombe added: “We represent all our residents and we have to do what we think is right.

“There's too much of it goes on and then they come crying to us for permission after using it for years. I feel very strongly about this.”

The school application was offered support by Councillor Daryl Yawitch, who pointed to the lack of school places and said to reject it on the grounds of a loss of residential space would be wrong given the development on the nearby Stonegrove estate.

He added: “Schooling is very important and we have a shortage of places. We can't afford to punish the children as a result of the actions of the adults.”

The committee indicated there would be a consensus to allow the school remain and asked planning officers to look at what conditions could be put on the permission to cut down on the nuisance caused by the school.