BUILDING a new school off Kingstown Road is not enough to resolve all of the education provision issues in north Carlisle, a councillor has claimed.

Gareth Ellis, deputy leader of Carlisle City Council, also wants to see an expansion of Rockcliffe School to take growing numbers of pupils from the Crindledyke estate.

Today councillors will consider whether a new 200-home development off California Road should be granted planning permission.

Although recommended for approval, there are concerns about the lack of available school places in the catchment. To compensate, planning officers have recommended that developer Gleeson Homes pays a £950,000 education contribution.

Other developers building homes in the area are also doing the same - potentially funding a new school at Windsor Way/Tarraby View.

Story Homes had planned to build a new school on its Crindledyke estate - which has the potential to grow from 200 homes to 800 - but that is now looking unlikely.

Instead Fred Story has said he is looking at helping to fund the Tarraby View school, to create space for the rising number of pupils.

But Mr Ellis, who represents Belah and Kingmoor, does not believe this alone is the solution for everyone.

He also wants to see a large chunk of the education funding contribution from the Crindledyke expansion used to extend Rockcliffe School.

Mr Ellis said at present,

children from Crindledyke go to a mixture of schools, including Rockcliffe and Kingmoor.

He claims that the proposed new school would not appeal to many Crindledyke families.

“The county council have got a site earmarked at Tarraby View for a school with room for about 200 pupils. That will be great for alleviating pressure on schools in the north of the city.

“However Crindledyke is quite a long way from Tarraby View,” he explained.

“Residents in Crindledyke do feel a little bit robbed. They bought their houses expecting a school to be built there.

“I would therefore like to see the funds that come from any further Crindledyke expansion used to create more places at Rockcliffe School.”

Mr Ellis believes the village school would be open to this.

David Hodgkiss, head at Rockcliffe, said: “The governors at Rockcliffe CE School continue to work proactively with Cumbria County Council as they seek to manage and expand school places across north Carlisle.”

Mr Ellis stressed: “I’m happy with the concept of a new school north of the river and happy with that location. My only real issue is that we have got people who are quite a long way from it.

“The closure of Belah School still smarts with some people, however it is too late. That’s why we have got to get this right.”