Car park plan near school

A green space next to a school in Great Wyrley could soon be turned into a car park.

A planning application has been lodged with Staffordshire County Council seeking permission to create a 34-space car park close to Great Wyrley Performing Arts College.

However, the scheme is facing opposition from people living nearby.

Staffordshire Police raised concerns that the area earmarked, measuring 170ft (52m) by 52ft (16m), is isolated and not easily seen from the school.

Police recommended thinning out trees and installing good quality CCTV to monitor the car park. They also asked for appropriate lighting to be installed plus lockable gates.

The school currently has 81 parking bays, two disabled spaces plus three temporary bays, which are used for coach drop-off areas at the start and end of the school day.

But it means the school is still short of 54 spaces, so the proposed work would create 34 and another 18 could potentially be provided on two other hardstanding areas which would require separate planning permission.

It is hoped the work would stop people parking on the road.

A letter of objection plus a petition signed by 35 people was submitted to the county council objecting to the work.

The land would need to be bought from South Staffordshire Housing Association and only a quarter of it would be used for the car parking. The plans have been penned as part of an ongoing landscaping project at the school.

The county council's planning committee was set to be asked to consider the proposals at a meeting today.

By Michelle Pearson