Primary school plan approved despite parking concerns

The new 210-place academy school will be built off Pye Green Road in Hednesford to complement a major housing development after planning chiefs unanimously gave it the green light.

But in a heated debate councillors accused Staffordshire County Council, which is behind the plans for the school, of blackmail and firmly stated: "We are going to have problems with parking."

Labour councillors had had the decision over the school deferred twice before it finally came to a head at a planning meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

Councillors had asked the county council to look at the possibility of a pick up/drop off facility for the school, something the authority flat out refused to implement.

It went further, telling councillors there was 'no plan B' as there was nowhere for the children from the new housing development to go to school if this plan was not approved.

Unhappy Labour councillors eventually budged and voted for the school to be built, despite maintaining their concerns over parking.

Stuart Lane, from Staffordshire County Council, said after the meeting: "The county council is very pleased with the decision and we look forward to working with Cannock council.

"Good healthy debate never hurt anyone."

During the meeting the county council insisted it was not its policy to build on-site parking for parents unless in exceptional circumstances, and that nearly all of the kids attending the school would be from the major new housing estate under construction nearby.

But this was met with much disagreement. Councillor Doris Grice said: "We do need parking. Times change and families change, this school will be there for a long time.

"We have problems with parking with every school in Hednesford and this will only exacerbate the problem."

The strongest opposition came from the vice-chair of the committee, councillor Alan Pearson, who after declaring 'I will be heard', said: "I think we are being blackmailed by county.

"I know we are going to have problems with parking."

But Conservative councillors were adamant the plans should be approved and rubbished the parking concerns.

Paul Snape, the leader of the Conservative group on the council and who was stepping in for Graham Burnett after his death last month, said: "We need this school, we are a growing population.

"Will people come and live in the houses being built if there is no school for their kids to use? We need to use common sense, if we turn the school down we will turn people away from Cannock Chase."