Plans to increase the size of two Watford schools are likely to be approved by councillors on Monday – despite opposition from neighbouring residents.

Hertfordshire County Council, which is battling a shortfall of primary school places in the town, is planning to boost capacity at Cassiobury junior and infant schools.

If plans are approved at a meeting on Monday, both schools will accommodate for an additional 30 children (one form of entry) – the first from September 2013 and the second from September 2012. As a result, 90 new children (three forms of entry) would begin classes at the schools every year.

The council, which in January published a public consultation into school expansions across the county, met with stiff opposition over its plans to boost capacity at both Cassiobury schools, with residents complaining about traffic, noise, infrastructure strain and even the legitimacy of the consultation process itself.

One correspondent summed up the feelings of many of those who contacted the council to complain. “I am angered that there has been so much development in the Watford area with no provision for extra schools, and now the schools can’t cope with the extra numbers of children – the proposal is to increase the size of existing schools which I believe will have a very detrimental effect on both the schools and surrounding residential areas.”

Another objector wrote: “The increased noise during the day, from the proposed large increase in children, will affect our enjoyment of our home and garden. Play times are already noisy and the increase in children would take the noise to unacceptable levels.”

If approved, the expansion plans would necessitate the building of new classrooms and additional car parking – most likely accessed through Coningsby Drive. The final details will be subject to a full public consultation before any building work can take place.

The Conservative-controlled county council, however, is expected to clear its first planning hurdle on Monday afternoon, when members of its ruling cabinet will make a decision on a total of five school expansion programmes.

Its officers, who argue that both schools are ideal for expansion, have taken into account the concerns of residents but feel that none are of sufficient weight to halt the process. If permission is granted, separate planning consents would have to be approved by the council before building work can take place.

Other school expansions have already been approved without opposition; at Beechfield School (one form of entry by 2012), Cherry Tree Primary (one form of entry by2011), Holywell Primary (one form of entry by 2012), and Tanners Wood School, Abbots Langley (half a form of entry by 2012.)

Some complainants on the Cassiobury Estate also claimed that the council’s consultation process – aimed at parents – was not fair. The council, however, says full details were made available to al relevant “stakeholders”, including neighbouring residents.