Plans approved for new school in Telford

The new academy school will be built off Martingale Way, Lawley, an area due to see 3,400 homes built over the next few years.

Planning officers said the primary school is the next vital stage in the ongoing work to develop the Lawley Sustainable Urban Extension and could later be extended to accommodate more than 400 pupils.

The plans, which include a playing field and a room which could be used by community groups, had been opposed by Lawley and Overdale Parish Council, which fears the development could make existing traffic problems worse and fails to provide the facilities that are needed locally.

But members of Telford & Wrekin Council's Planning Committee voted to approve the plans at their meeting at The Whitehouse in Wellington last night, despite members also having concerns over the parking provision and nearby road network.

Councillors raised particular concerns that the school may exacerbate existing traffic problems on Lawley Square, with the added number of new parents taking children to school.

They also questioned the number of car parking spaces provided in the plans, which they felt they were inadequate for a school of that size and would force parents to park in the nearby Morrisons car park and then have to take their children across a busy main road to be able to get them to school.

Councillor Nigel Dugmore said: "We certainly do need a new school but I do have my concerns.

"The parish council say the traffic situation is already difficult and only a third of the Lawley site has been developed.

"The pick-up and drop off area is totally inadequate, particularly when the school is extended.

"Asking parents to park on Morrisons car park means children will have to cross a very busy road."

Councillor Leon Murray added: "It is crazy to think we can build a school and expect parents to park in Morrisons and walk over.

"It doesn't appear to me that planning officers have thought about it practically."

Councillor Chris Turley, vice chair of the committee, said: "This is a new school, and to me that is a good news story.

"I do understand the concerns and I have my concerns about traffic and if we could make the road one-way that would be appreciated."

But planning officers informed councillors that as the application was for reserve matters only, they would be unable to recommend any changes to the previously approved road network surrounding the school.

They added that because the school had been designed within the Lawley urban extension, the parking facilities were designed to encourage parents living within the development to walk or cycle with their children to the school.

Dave Middlemiss, the architect behind the plans, told councillors that the sponsor to run the academy has already been interviewed and is facing final checks by Government to ensure they are suitable to run the new school and that once planning permission was granted, work to build the new facility should begin soon.