A village voices its disapproval at plan (From Warrington Guardian)

A village voices its disapproval at plan

THE campaign to keep Stockton Heath Primary School building open as a school is still ongoing.

Residents in the village are opposed to borough council plans to build a new £3.9 million primary school.

Instead they are calling on the borough council to use the money to refurbish the existing school building and make it fit for the 21st century.

One disgruntled parent said: "The centre of the village is the local primary school and what the borough council hasn't been able to answer yet is can the money be used for renovation or does it have to be a new build?

"The council hasn't come up with any firm plans yet. If it puts mobile classrooms on the artificial turf at the school as it's suggested, where will the children play?

"It seems that it is shooting in the dark at the moment and that's not good enough for the children and parents of Stockton Heath."

Former Stockton Heath Primary School pupil Patrick Mullee sent his own children to the school and now his grandchildren go there.

He told the Warrington Guardian: "I am up for the refurbishment of the old building. I am not in favour of a new building at all.

"I can't see the point in pulling it down, £3.9 million would put an extension on this building and refurbish it beautifully."

The parish council is writing to English Heritage to get the building listed, which would protect it from any unauthorised development.

Clr Celia Jordan, borough and parish councillor for Stockton Heath, said: "There is evidence that there is a Roman Road under the school, so before anything is done the site needs to be excavated.

"We are also hoping to get the building listed, which would prevent any work being done on the building without proper permission."

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