Plan for new school Freshwater school seeks approval

Plans were submitted by the Isle of Wight Council to demolish the former All Saints' Primary School, on School Green Road.

After a year-long dispute, the Freshwater school would close to tackle the surplus school places in existing primary schools in the West Wight.

Following the closure, a new purpose-built development would go ahead and Yarmouth Primary would move into the new facilities built on the site of the old Freshwater school.

Read more about the plans here: Goodbye All Saints - West Wight primary school new look revealed

There was opposition from those in Yarmouth who did not want the town to lose its school.

The Isle of Wight Council has been awarded funding from central government, of £4.5 million, to cover the costs of the new build.

Read more: Confirmed: £4.5 million of government cash for new West Wight primary school

Now, Isle of Wight Council planning officers have put the application for the new school buildings forward for conditional approval.

The application will go before the council's planning committee next Tuesday, November 3, where councillors will decide the fate of the building.

According to planning documents, the current school is poorly arranged with areas suffering from subsidence, structural cracking, dry rot and water ingress.

The applicants say the buildings are not suitable for modern-day primary education. The existing nursery on the site, however, would be retained as it is.

Two objections to the application were made by the public, none from public bodies.

One said despite the incorporation of reclaimed ragstone from the current school in the new build, some more should be added to acknowledge local history of the school which has played 'a vital part' in all aspects of West Wight life for 170 years and survived two world wars — instead of the new building looking like 'a factory'.

Two letters of support were also submitted, one saying it is 'really great' to have a modern, purpose built school proposed in the most suitable area while also leaving the green space and woodland areas.

The other came from the council's cabinet member for education, Cllr Paul Brading, who said the previous building needs urgent repairs and the commitment was given to provide the West Wight with a new well-equipped one form entry school fit for pupils now but also the long-term sustainable future.

He said: "The plans submitted deliver on all the requirements for educational achievements and environmental requirements, and will give the long term sustainability promised. I fully support these plans being approved."

In the planning officers' report, they said the application represents an opportunity to significantly improve the educational facilities on the site.

Officers ask for 15 conditions, including more planning documents (an arboreal method statement and highway construction management plan) and materials submitted to and approved by the council before any development starts as well as the building cannot be occupied until parking/storage facilities are provided for a minimum of 50 scooters and 16 bikes.