Thumbs up on merger re-think

Campaigners have won a re-think over plans to create a "superschool" in Stourport. A task group has ruled that the proposals will be looked at again.

The bid to merge two primary schools and build a £6.6 million primary were approved by Worcestershire County Council in April.

The plan was to merge Lickhill Primary with Stourport Primary and create a new centre on the site of axed Lickhill Middle School.

However, the decision was called in for closer investigation. Campaigners are now celebrating after Worcestershire County Council's scrutiny committee agreed yesterday that the decision should be looked at again. They referred the decision to the council's cabinet meeting on October 23.

Wyre Forest Councillor Jill Fairbrother-Millis, who asked for the decision to be called in, said: "There were concerns that the case for closing Lickhill Prmary had not been made.

"Also there were concerns the new school would not have enough places for the expected increase in pupil numbers over there next few years."

Councillors originally supported the plan which involved closing Lickhill Primary on August 31, 2011, and expanding Stourport Primary School to a two-form entry school.