COUNCILLORS have urged the county council to pursue options for a second primary school in Norton after plans to expand the existing site were given the go-ahead.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has approved the expansion of Norton Primary onto the site of Brooklyn House, Langton Road, to provide 630 places for children aged between three and 11 by September 2017.

The council's executive also pledged to work with Ryedale District Council and others on the provision of further primary school places if expected housing developments in the town come to fruition.

A possible site for a new school has been suggested as part of a proposed development that includes 500 new homes and a link road between Beverley Road and the Brambling Fields roundabout in Scarborough Road. However, a planning application has yet to be submitted.

District councillor Keane Duncan said that while there was no question that more school places were required, there was still a question about whether a satellite school at Brooklyn was the most appropriate, most cost effective and safest site on which to provide long-term capacity.

"It is my view that if more homes are coming to Norton, that if an expanded school on Brooklyn can only provide enough capacity for 10 years and that if money can be saved by taking a long-term view, NYCC may as well pursue the Beverley Road site sooner rather than later," he said.

Fellow district councillor Luke Ives said: “I am pleased that through our replies to the consultation we have secured £3m additional investment in Norton, which will provide a long-term solution to the increasing demands on primary school places in the town.

"Norton Primary School is already one of the largest primary schools in North Yorkshire, so it is unsustainable for it to nearly double. By planning to build a separate school in Beverley Road, it will introduce choice for parents, and will divert traffic away from the heart of the town.”

Councillor Di Keal, a district and town councillor for Norton West, said: "While recognising that the county council has to make urgent plans as Norton Primary is rapidly outgrowing it's current premises, it is a pity that they have gone for a solution that is not ideal for the school, it's students or the local community.

"The use of the Brooklyn site, creating a split site school, raises concerns about the safety of children moving from one site to the other and is bound to lead to increased traffic congestion on Langton Road.

"I would urge the county council to consider this move as only a temporary solution and to explore the alternative site that has been suggested by Norton Town Council on the proposed development in Beverley Road as a matter of urgency. This site could provide a brand new school and would be ideally situated to cater for the growing numbers of families moving into Norton."

The plans to extend the primary school were supported by the governing body and headteacher Liz Parker.

Head of governors Linda McCarthy said she did not wish to comment further at this stage.