NO decision has been made by Dorset County Council as to whether a Bridport school will be replaced as part of the Vearse Farm development.

The latest amendments to the draft Local Plan indicated St Mary's School could be moved to make way for development - if the Vearse Farm school site is identified as a replacement school, along with the playing fields and the associated children's centre.

Fears have been raised that the school could be moved without proper consultation, and that changes may also affect other Bridport schools.

Bridport resident Sarah Horniman said: "There is a proposal in the Local Plan that the site of St Mary’s Primary School would be built on.

"The proposal is that there would be a new school on the Vearse Farm site – but that would not encompass just the catchment area of St Mary’s School – but also the catchment area of Symondsbury School."

The worries have been echoed by Dorset County councillor for Bridport, Cllr Ros Kayes.

"There have been some clear concerns expressed by the community about moving the school at all" she said.

"The amended plan also suggests any new school on Vearse Farm might also cater for Symondsbury which has clear implications for that school and those parents as well.

"I am alarmed that the reference to rebuilding the children's centre should the school move elsewhere, has been removed. This is vital part of our community infrastructure."

Dorset County Council have moved to reassure parents that they are exploring options for education in the coming years and that there are no plans to make immediate changes to St Mary's School.

Cllr Toni Coombs, cabinet member for children and young people at Dorset County Council, said: "As part of our forward planning, Dorset County Council continues to explore options for possible additional education capacity within Bridport in the coming years.

"The county council has been in discussions with West Dorset District Council and the developers of the Vearse Farm project in order to identify a suitable site for a primary school. No decision has been made as to whether the new school will be a replacement for an existing Bridport pyramid school or a new school. Any decision will be made based on the number of children requiring places at the time, and in discussion with Salisbury Diocese.

"There are no plans at this time to make changes to the educational provisions at St Mary's, Bridport."

A spokesperson from the Diocese of Salisbury, said: "There are no plans to change current primary school provision at St Mary's in Bridport.

"The amendments to the West Dorset Local Plan would allow a new two-form entry primary school to be built on the Vearse Farm site, should the need arise. If it does, a decision would be taken at that point about whether any new school at Vearse Farm would replace an existing Bridport primary school or be an additional school.

"We reiterate that there are no current plans to change current provisions at St Mary's and any changes that might occur would not take place for some years."