PARENTS in Blackwell are over the moon after discovering the county council is to withdraw plans to change school catchment areas.

Last week the Advertiser/ Messenger was inundated with calls from concerned parents of children at Linthurst First School who feared their youngsters would no longer progress to Alvechurch Middle School.

But thanks to people power Worcestershire County Council's proposal to change school catchment areas has been taken off this Thursday's executive cabinet meeting agenda.

Concerned parent Debbie Wilson, of Linthurst Newtown, set up a petition opposing the changes which would have seen children sent to Catshill or Parkside middle schools instead of Alvechurch.

It was sent to Bromsgrove district councillor Brian Taylor (Con, Alvechurch), who said: "I have been working very hard behind the scenes and thanks to the wonderful response to the petition, the county council has agreed to withdraw its recent application.

"The decision that the status quo will remain was given to me verbally by council leader Dr George Lord on Tuesday morning.

" This will be ratified at the executive cabinet meeting on Thursday."

County council cabinet member for education and life-long learning, June Longmuir (Con, Bromsgrove, South) said: "We are to amend the proposal to make certain parents can send their children to Alvechurch Middle School if they wish to do so.

"At present there is enough space for the youngsters to go but for the 2003 intake it might be more difficult."

Parent Debbie added: "We are delighted the council has reconsidered its plan but are still a little wary as the meeting is yet to take place and we haven't seen anything in black and white."