New school for old plan held-up

A DECISION has been deferred on plans to demolish an out-dated Warrington primary school which has inadequate facilities and poor quality buildings.
Members of the borough council’s development management committee will visit Woolston Primary School, in Hall Road, Woolston before deciding whether it can be demolished to make way for a new, contemporary-style school.
A number of nearby residents have lodged objections, citing fears of traffic congestion during delivery times and increased impact on adjacent dwellings.
Woolston Parish Council and local borough councillor Bill Brinksman have also expressed concerns about deliveries to the site clashing with school times and roads being inadequate for large vehicles.
The proposals, put forward by the school governing body, are for a single storey school building catering for 210 pupils to replace the existing two-storey building which provides for 256 pupils.
Forecasts are that pupils numbers in the area will fall.
Planning officers say the aim of the new building would be to provide “street presence” to both Hall Road and Barnfield Road through its modern design, while respecting the adjoining residential area.
The new building would be to the south west of the site, on a play area which would be replaced on the cleared site of the existing school. It would tend to be more prominent than the existing building which is a 1950s flat roofed structure.
A total of 51 trees would be removed and 60 new ones planted but the proposals include a hard play area, a multi use games area and an under 12 grass pitch.