Second bite of the cherry - planners to take fresh look at proposal for new Waltham junior school

                                                   

Artist's impression of the new primary school proposed for Waltham

WILL planners give the go-ahead for a new primary school in Waltham?

When an application for the development on land off Sunningdale came before North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee last month, it was deferred by 10 votes to one after it emerged that insufficient attention had been given to potential inconvenience to residents as the result of  likely traffic congestion.

In a surprise outburst, ward councillor Philip Jackson accused the highways department of being "dismissive" of local concerns.

"Not for the first time, their response has been totally inadequate," he declared. "It has been an insult to residents.

"There are severe traffic problems that need to be addressed."

However, a different perspective came from head of planning Martin Dixon who maintained the location was right because it was "at the heart of the community which it serves".

But the overwhelming of the committee was that greater efforts should be made by officers to design out potential traffic issues rather than accepting them as an inevitable consequence of the proposal.

The extent to which these concerns have been addressed by the highways department will become apparent at NELC's next planning meeting on January 3.

As at the November meeting, the  application is being recommended for approval.