Council approves plans for new school buildings

ACCESS to a Northumberland school is in urgent need of improvement to halt clashes between local residents and parents, a council meeting was told.

- JAMES ROBINSON

Cramlington Village councillor Mark Swinburn said successive councils had failed to address issues at Cramlington Learning Village, resulting in ever-increasing tensions.

Coun Swinburn was speaking at last Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s strategic planning committee, with plans for new school buildings on the site up for approval.

The plans would see nine of the school’s existing buildings demolished and a new school constructed along with a new access and car park. Coun Swinburn was supportive of a new school, but said the Department for Education-funded scheme failed to address the long-standing issues around access from Dudley Lane.

He said: "This will be an asset to our town and those learners who spend their time there. It also will not be a strain on the council’s coffers. However, I support the residents objections and concerns raised. The access issues have seen things escalate constantly.