Plans for a new school in Whitefield, Nelson have been given the go-ahead by County Hall.
 
There had been fears that the change in political control of Lancashire County Council last June would mean a re-think, despite the fact that money for the project had been earmarked by the outgoing Labour administration.
 
Speaking from Nelson earlier, local MP, Gordon Prentice, said: "Everyone is breathing a huge sigh of relief that this project is back on track. We've just got to make sure there are no delays because the present school is bursting at the seams.”
 
The project involves the building of a new Infant School and the upgrading of the present Junior School in Whitefield. The two schools are expanding their intakes to handle the increased demand for places.

The MP continued: "I am delighted that the new administration in County Hall has decided to continue the investment in Whitefield. The present Whitefield Infant School and Lomeshaye Junior School, that share a common site at Norfolk Street, Nelson, have received capital funding to build a new infant school along Every Street, next to the Enterprise Centre, and to re-vamp the existing site for juniors only.

“The intake into both schools has to be increased over the coming years to cope with the growing young population of Whitefield ward.

"People are being consulted about the design of the new school and I have already met the architect to give him my views on the layout of the new site and the design of the facilities. A new social and education centre in that part of Whitefield is desperately needed. The surrounding derelict land and boarded-up terraced houses do not make a healthy and reassuring environment to bring up families.

"I recently visited Whitefield Infant School and saw for myself the portakabins that are being used as classrooms in the playground.  A quart is being squeezed into a pint pot. I was impressed at the valiant efforts of the head and staff to give the children the best possible education in a very difficult environment.

"I also visited the new school site and saw for myself the derelict terraced housing that would need to be demolished to provide the area for the new school. I appreciate that English Heritage are keen to conserve parts of Whitefield as examples of industrial terraced housing but our children’s education has to take priority. I have written to Baroness Andrews, the Chair of English Heritage, explaining the urgency of the situation and asking her to support this vital development.

Attached Photo Shows Iftekhar Bukhari, Pendle Council’s Whitefield Regeneration Officer and Jim Blackburn from Lancashire County Council’s Children & Young People Directorate with Gordon Prentice inspecting the plans at the Enterprise Centre site on Every Street, Nelson.