A WESTBURY primary school is on track for a £2million extension after plans for four new classrooms got the go-ahead last month.
The first phase of building at Bitham Brook Primary School will happen next year as the school looks to make space for an extra 120 pupils.
Planning permission was granted in November and the first phase – two new classrooms and a hall extension – is expected to be complete by September 2017.
The work is being paid for by the two developers building 520 homes on Bitham Park and The Mead. Bitham Brook needs to expand because it will be the local school for families moving onto the new estates.
Headteacher David Ross said, “We’re very excited about the extension; it means more facilities for us and space for more children.
“I’m of the view that it’s good to send children to their local school. Having a good school on their doorstep is ideal for parents, and the less our pupils have to travel, the more it reduces our carbon footprint.”
The plans had the support of Westbury Town Council and over 100 parents signed a petition in favour of the extension.
“It was great that our parents got behind the plans,” David Ross added. “They expressed nothing but support to me, and I think they share our enthusiasm about the project.
“I’m also very pleased that the way the extension is going to be built will replicate the best bits of our school. It will be spacious, there will be more room for group work and we’ll have a bigger hall.
“I’m not sure how long the building will take, but the first phase needs to be done by September so we expect work to be starting soon.”
People living near the school are concerned about traffic and parents parking on their streets when driving to school. 32 Arundell Close residents signed a petition calling for action, and Westbury Town Council said it was concerned about access and travel to the school.
Wiltshire Council has ordered Bitham Brook to encourage families to walk to school and to set up a rota of parents to monitor parking on Arundell Close.
More parking spaces will be provided with the extension and the school has produced its own travel plan describing how it promotes safe, healthy journeys and aims to reduce the number of parents driving to school.
See the full plans and comments online using reference 16/07361/FUL in the planning search at www.wiltshire.gov.uk
