Fears over 'too small' school

Under the Wyre Forest School Review, it was planned that the existing Wribbenhall First School, in Shaw Hedge Road, was to be extended to accommodate the new establishment.

Worcestershire education officers are now looking into the possibility of developing it on a larger area, as the new school will need to include a children's centre for pre-school children, which is a Government initiative.

They are considering using the Middle School building and site in Stourport Road and Nigel Knowles, who represents St Barnabas on Worcestershire County Council, said he was "absolutely against" the plans, believing the school would be too cramped.

He added it would lead to increased traffic in Stourport Road, which already suffered from high numbers of cars, due to parents dropping off and collecting their children.

"As the children's centre would be there as well, there would be cars parked outside all day," he said.

"The Shaw Hedge Road site is much safer, the road is quieter and it would be a better place to develop the new education facilities."

Councillor Knowles, who is a member of the county council's School Project Board, added: "I don't know why they are even considering it. We have had the review in Wyre Forest. We've decided which schools are going to close. I don't think it is right to close a school down that wasn't in the original review. If the proposal had any credibility it would have been in the original review."

He said he would be discussing the matter at a meeting of the full Worcestershire County Council today.

Dr Zoe Cookson, project manager of the Wyre Forest Schools Review, said no decisions had been made and feasibility studies for the proposal and the accommodation needs of the new Bewdley Secondary School were being carried out.

She added the matter would go out to public consultation before the final decision was made and said parents had been informed about the proposals.