Lincolnshire County Council says Gosberton and Long Sutton have ‘sufficient school places’ to cope with large new developments

Education chiefs say there are ‘sufficient school places’ to cope with the additional 200 homes which are set to be built in two areas - despite fears raised in both locations.

Lincolnshire County Council have stated that there are 284 surplus places in schools around Gosberton and Long Sutton which have each been earmarked for two large housing estates.

Gleeson Regeneration Ltd wants to build 92 homes on land at the bottom of York Gardens – a cul-de-sac off Welby Gardens – in Gosberton while Brownmoor Developments wants to construct 123 units on the former Long Sutton Butterfly Park site, Little London.

Concerns have been raised by locals in both cases that the schools will not be able to cope with the influx of new families – with the impact on the roads also floated as an issue.

Figures released by the county council show that there are just five spaces at Long Sutton County Primary School while there are 14 at Gosberton Primary Academy.

But John O’Connor, Head of Educational Support, has says it plans future educational needs several years ahead.

He said: “We are aware of the two applications for house-builds in Long Sutton and Gosberton. School places are planned for by areas rather than an individual school so that we have sufficient school places within a reasonable distance of where children live. At present there are sufficient school places for both developments in these areas.

“More generally, we plan for school places annually, looking several years ahead into the future, based on trends in pupil populations, house build applications and GP registrations.

“Working with schools we have several options available to increase school places if we need to, such as schools with unused space can offer additional places or we can add capacity to the school through new classrooms or extensions.”

The county council estimates that 25 primary school places would be need for a development of 123 homes and says there are 227 surplus places across eight schools in the area.

These are:

- Fleet Wood Lane – 23 places

- Gedney Church End Primary Academy – 45 places

- Gedney Drove End Primary Academy – 38 places

- Long Sutton County Primary School – five school places

- Lutton St Nicholas Primary School – seven places

- Sutton Bridge Westmere School – 92 places

- Sutton St James Community Primary School – 17 places.

The county council estimate 19 places would be needed to meet the needs of the Gosberton proposal and say there are 57 surplus places.

These are:

- Gosberton Academy – 14 surplus places

- Gosberton Clough and Risegate Primary School – five places

- Surfleet Primary School – 38 places.

There are no places at Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School.

Plans have recently been submitted from Sutton Bridge Westmere Primary School for a portable classroom to provide additional accommodation for under twos.

What do you think? Have we got enough school spaces to cope with demand? Let us know your views in the comments below…