Plans to increase pupil numbers at Barker’s Lane primary school set to progress to next stage

Plans to increase pupil numbers by more than 100 at a local primary are set to progress to the next stage.

Executive board members will next week be asked for their approval to publish statutory notices over proposals to increase pupil capacity at Barker’s Lane CP in Borras.

As part of the proposals the school would be extended so it can accommodate a further 105 pupils – which equates to 15 pupils per year group.

The first year of the increase would be September 2020, with nursery and reception classes each taking an extra 15 pupils. The annual admission number would then go up each year, until the maximum capacity of 315 pupils – plus 45 at nursery – is reached.

The proposals come as part of an effort to meet the rising demand in primary school places around the town centre and would be funded by Welsh Government.

Between October and December 2018 a public consultation a public consultation over the proposals took place.

A total of 27 responses were received, of which five voiced their support to the plans and three against. The remaining 19 replies are described by Wrexham Council are described as being neutral to the plans.

One of the key concerns raised during the consultation was in relation to car parking and traffic along Barker’s Lane.

As part of the feedback the road is described as an ‘obstacle course’ due to the volume of cars parked along Barker’s Lane during the mornings and afternoons.

Another comment submitted from a resident, states: “‘With the intention to increase the number of children by fifty percent, (equivalent to one hundred children) would mean a fifty percent increase in the number of vehicles arriving in the same time frame, this would increase the problems dramatically, bringing the area already congested into total grid-lock’.

However Wrexham Council say that the cars parked ‘all day long’ are likely to be staff as currently there is no staff parking on site.

The council continue onto say: “As part of the development the Local Authority propose to introduce parking on site ensuring adequate spaces for all staff.

“This will free parking spaces outside of the school premises for parents to drop off/pick up their children.

“A traffic survey was completed as part of the development with further recommendations that will be considered, some of which are outside of Local Authority control and relate to the behaviours of motorists.”

Feedback has also been submitted by members of the school council, who welcomed the plans – but called for more space for playtimes and more books / iPads for pupils to use.

A final decision on the proposals is expected to take place over summer – with a planning application to extend the building likely to be submitted at a later date.