Village ‘will see school site assessment’

County education chiefs say residents of a West Norfolk village will have the chance to see assessments of a second potential site for a new primary school in their area.

Plans to build a new school and nursery in Gayton have stalled since a decision on existing proposals to develop a site at the junction of Back Street and Winch Road was deferred in January last year.

But, although Norfolk County Council says it still wants to go ahead on that site, officials have indicated villagers will have the chance to look at an alternative area which has been identified.

The authority said in a statement: “We continue to pursue a planning application for the replacement primary school for Gayton which remains our preferred option.

“Due to ongoing delays with the determination of the application we have identified an alternative site, which was considered in the original site appraisal process.

“A high-level site appraisal has been commissioned for the alternative site and this will be shared at community events in the coming months.

“We remain committed to providing Gayton with a modern and enlarged primary school.”

Proposals for the new school were first outlined in the autumn of 2015.

Although there is general agreement that a new school is urgently needed to meet both current and future demand, concerns about flood risk and traffic management around the Back Street site have persisted.

The relocation plan would allow for 210 pupils to be taught at the school, alongside a nursery with room for more than 50 youngsters.

An existing planning permission to retain temporary buildings at the school’s current Lynn Road home, which have been used since it became a through primary school in 2011, is currently due to expire next year.