A £7million plan to rebuild a Dudley school has been shelved due to cuts, it was revealed today. The council wanted to move Red Hall Primary School.

It is currently split across a busy road in Lower Gornal and Dudley Council wanted to move it on to one site.

However, it was announced that funding to repair and maintain West Midlands schools will be cut by £45 million in the latest round of government cuts.

It means Dudley’s capital grant, funding everything from extra classrooms to meet rising pupil numbers to basic maintenance,is being cut from £17m to £8m.

Dudley schools chief Councillor Liz Walker, said they put rebuild plans for Red Hall on hold. They hoped to submit plans early next year and begin work in summer or autumn.

Dudley Council spokeswoman Kate Arnold said: “The money would have been used to rebuild and remodel the school to bring the full facility onto one site.” Cuts are to be offset by the coalition Government’s pupil premium – £430 for each pupil with parents on less than £16,000-a-year going direct to the school.

Walsall is worst hit in the region as its capital grant falls from £23.9 million to £9.3m. Wolverhampton’s will fall from £14.7m to £7.4m and Staffordshire’s from £34m to £27m.

Sandwell will lose £8m.