An ambitious bid to amalgamate St Helen's junior and infant schools could take a major step forward if plans for a new infant school building in Sawyers Hall Lane get the go ahead.
At the moment the two voluntary aided Roman Catholic schools occupy separate sites in Sawyers Hall Lane and Queens Road respectively.
Now the Brentwood Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees have submitted an outline planning application proposing the construction of a new infant school beside the existing junior school.
If the plans are given the go ahead the trustees would look to move the infant school across to Sawyers Hall Lane, while selling off the Queens Road site for housing.
The trustees hope the benefits of the scheme will be seen to outweigh the fact the site of the proposed new school building - on the junior school's current playground - is within the Green Belt.
The supporting statement by the trustees' agent, JTS Partnership, emphasised that the proposals were part of a long term strategy being developed by the diocese's Director of Education Father George Stokes and the trustees.
The application states: "The intention and long term aim of the diocese of Brentwood and Father George Stokes is to amalgamate both schools and create a single primary school, although for various reasons this cannot happen with immediate effect."
But, the application added: "The deal is complicated by the fact the Green Belt Boundary dissects the junior school site and the proposed infant school buildings will be sited in the Green Belt."
JTS Partnership said the trustees had a "very strong" case which emphasised the positive educational benefits from constructing a new infant school and amalgamating of schools into one.
The application stressed that the existing infant school site in Queens Road was "wholly inadequate" due to problems with parking and congestion. At the moment there are no authorised parking spaces for parents and only a small coach bay.
The outline planning application proposes extensions and alterations to the existing junior school alongside the provision of new car parking facilities, footpaths and access.
It is hoped that the whole project will be funded by selling off the Queens Road site for housing.
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2003
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