PLANS to move Christopher Whitehead High out of Worcester have run into opposition from city councillors.

They have told Worcestershire County Council that the scheme to rebuild it at Earl's Court Farm, west of Dines Green, contravenes planning policy.

The outline application is being made to move the school outside the city boundary because Tesco has applied to build a superstore on its St John's site.

Last night, the city planning committee told the county council - which will decide whether the plan goes ahead or not - that the school should stay where it is.

"The benefit is that we have a new school which will cost the council nothing," said Councillor Ray Turner.

"But, in an area like St John's, the school's part and parcel of the community, like the post office, the pub and the church," he said.

He said that about 80 per cent of Christopher Whitehead students cycled or walked to school, which was good exercise and made them more alert in classes.

"But, if you move it, about 60 per cent will travel in their parent's car or the bus if possible," he told the meeting.

Coun Aubrey Tarbuck said the school belonged to the city for the next planning period and should remain in Worcester.

"The fact that it's been left to decay is not really our problem," he said.

And Coun Paul Denham added that the only advantage was that a new school would emerge from the project.

According to Coun Gary Kibblewhite, "if Tesco wasn't involved this application would not be in front of us now".

And principal planning officer Peter Yates warned that the application was "very much contrary to structure plans and Malvern Hills District Council local policies".

He said the outline application provided few details about what the school would be like which made it difficult to come to a decision.

"There are no details about how tall it is or what facilities it will have. We just have the footprint to work from."

The planning committee decided to

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From P1 / n recommend the council's cabinet to advise the county council to refuse the application to move the school to the parish of Rushwick, because there was no compelling case and the disadvantages outweighed the benefits.

Christopher Whitehead heateacher Allan Foulds welcomed the city's views but concerns remained about the clarity of the plans.

"It's unsettling for us not to know where the school will be sited in a few years time," he said. "It's right to get their feelings out in the open and it will strengthen the democratic process.

"I would encourage people to continue to make their feelings known. I'm always happy to hear people's views."