Halstead council backs town schools' extension plans

Richard de Clare Primary School, in Parsonage Street, has applied to build four new classrooms to improve teaching facilities.

The proposal is to provide a low-lying single-storey building to the west of the main school building to provide four Key Stage 1 classrooms.

Richard De Clare wants to build four new Key Stage 1 classrooms (Image: Google)

As part of the works, two single-storey demountable buildings which are “poor and dilapidated beyond repair” will be demolished.

Meanwhile, the Ramsey Academy is hoping to extend its dining hall.

Currently over capacity, a planning statement says the school’s existing dining facilities are “not suitable for the current student numbers”.

The proposal is to provide a single-storey extension to the south of the main academy building to create a larger dining space for students and staff.

The over-populated Ramsey Academy needs to extend its dining hall (Image: Google Maps)

Both plans were discussed at the town council meeting on Monday.

The plans by Richard de Clare were unanimously supported, however, councillors did also take note of the historic advisor’s comments, which state the use of brick slips to clad the building is “not ideal”.

The Ramsey Academy plans were also supported, with councillor Jackie Pell saying “there is no question, they have got to have it.”