PLANS to create space for more children at a Wrexham primary school have received the green light, despite concerns from residents over traffic and parking.
During the recent statutory notice period, a total of eleven individual responses were received, along with a petition signed by 24 residents asking for the entrance to the school not to be moved from Barker’s Lane to Lisburne Grove.
Members of Wrexham Council’s executive board met today to mull over the feedback and consider a report recommending the expansion for approval.
It came after the local authority pledged to create a new staff car park to alleviate the problems raised.
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However, Cllr Debbie Wallace, who represents the area surrounding the school, said she could not support the proposals as they stood because of the impact on the community.
The Conservative politician said: “For the residents I represent, this is a very controversial proposal and time and time again residents, specifically those living along Lisburne Grove, have offered to work with Wrexham Council to reach a happy medium.
“I want to highlight that I’m not opposed to the proposal, in fact I welcome the investment from Welsh Government in our community.
“However, what I disagree with is the current proposals and as a result I can’t support the plans as they stand.
“Why have 24 residents signed a petition requesting the planned entrance for the expanded site remain where it currently is?
“Surely this is Wrexham Council not listening to the concerns of residents.”
As part of the proposals, an extension will be added to the current building with pupil numbers set to increase from September 2020.
Education officials said the move had been put forward to meet a growing demand, which they were unable to meet during the last round of admissions.
It meant some pupils whose parents chose Barker’s Lane as their preferred school were refused entry.
Chief education officer Ian Roberts said any issues surrounding traffic and parking should be discussed as part of the planning application.
He said: “I think we need to tread with some caution here and the caution is around that there needs to be a division between any planning issue and any objection under this process.
“Due to our process being heavily defined by the school organisation code, what we need to do is follow this due process before we’re engaging with any local residents in terms of the configuration of the site, the access and the highways.
“That would all come at the planning stage and not at this stage.”
Executive board members voted to support measures which will see full time pupil numbers increase from 210 to 315.
Meanwhile, the number of nursery children will go up from 30 to 45.
A planning application to allow the physical changes to the building is expected to be put forward at a later date.
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