£11m school plans take step forward
Funding could be approved next week
ANEW £11 million primary school could be built in Bishop’s Cleeve if civic chiefs approve its funding next week.
The school will initially open to 60 Reception pupils in 2023, and will expand in line with projected housing growth to accommodate 630 local children by 2030, Gloucestershire County Council said.
It is not yet known where the new school will be built in the village.
The authority’s cabinet is expected to give the funding the go-ahead at a meeting on Wednesday, December 16.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has previously reported the authority was exploring whether to add 630 primary school places to Cleeve School, a secondary college and sixth-form college, as part of one of three options.
Locals, including the parish council, have previously recommended a new primary school should be built at Northenham allotments, in Evesham Road, in the north of the village.
The county council said it had set aside £8m for primary places in Bishop’s Cleeve, as part of a £100m investment, but a further £3m has been added to fund the project and buy the land to build the school on.
The new purpose-built school will be carbon neutral, the authority said.
Councillor Patrick Molyneux, cabinet member for economy, education and skills on the county council, said: “The local community will know we’re committed to providing school places as close as possible to children’s homes and we’ve spent some time looking for the best location for this school.
“We’ve listened to their concerns about a potential site to the south of the village and found a new site closer to the housing developments.
“We’re delighted to be able start this exciting phase of the project and will be able to confirm the location in the new year.”
Councillors Richard Stanley and Helen Munro, who represent parts of Bishop’s Cleeve on Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “This school investment is absolutely brilliant news for Bishop’s Cleeve.
“We have campaigned tirelessly with our parish council and local residents to have a school located close to the new homes in the north of the village.
“While we still await the final decision on location, the allocation of funding for land is very encouraging.
“A carbon neutral school, hopefully located close enough to the new homes to encourage children to walk and cycle to school, is really fantastic news for the sustainability of our village and the environment.”
Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet will determine the proposal on December 16, from 10am.