Travelling family may stay at St Martins school
Councillors will decide whether a family of travellers will be allowed to stay on the site of a former primary school for another 12 months.
The Stokes family has lived on the site of the former Ifton Heath Primary School in St Martins, near Oswestry, since 2015.
Members of Shropshire Council's north planning committee will be asked to consider a bid to extend the arrangement at a meeting next week.
The local authority gave permission for the family to keep its five caravans on the site three years ago, but said it would seek alternative land.
A report from case officer Mark Perry, which will go before council next week, said: "Members may have concerns that the previously granted consents were meant to allow the council time to pursue an alternative site for permanent occupation and that the applicant is now seeking a further 12 months.
"Alternatives are being considered by the council with a view to finding the Stokes family a permanent site, however further time is required."
The family has travelled the country with their fairground rides for generations and was for many years based on unused land at the livestock market in Oswestry.
But, when the land was included in the development site for a new market and a supermarket, the family found itself without a home for their caravans and fairground rides.
The school on Overton Road closed four years ago as part of a shake-up of education that saw the all-through St Martins School created for ages three to 16 on the site of the village's former Rhyn Park School.
Mr Perry said there would be no harm in the family using the site for an additional 12 months.
Planning officers have recommended councillors should grant family permission to stay on the site.
Tuesday's meeting will be held at Shirehall in Shrewsbury and will start at 2pm.
