THE proposed expansion of St Peter’s Primary School in Portishead has received the backing of its governing body.

In a letter to parents the governing body said: “We support North Somerset’s proposal to expand the school in order to address the shortage of places in Portishead.”

The expansion has yet to be approved by North Somerset Council’s executive member for children and young people’s services, Jeremy Blatchford, and even if it is approved, it will then be subject to the planning process.

A council scrutiny panel will meet tomorrow (Thurs) to discuss a report following public consultation on the expansion. The report recommends the school is extended to allow it to increase its pupil capacity from 420 to 630 by September 2014.

The public consultation saw only 180 responses from 884 questionnaires sent to stakeholders. A total of 55 per cent of replies were against the expansion, 43 per cent were for it and two per cent had no view.

Two building options were considered for the extension and option A is now preferred.

The plans will be on display at the school on May 1 for parents and residents of Halletts Way to view. They will be available in the school hall between 2-3pm and 7-8pm when three North Somerset Council officers will be present to explain the plans and answer questions.

Once submitted, the proposals will appear online on the authority’s website planning portal.

Subject to consultation and planning approval, the main construction work at the school will commence once the summer holidays begin at the end of July and completion would be by the summer of 2014.

The sports pitch upgrade will commence in the coming weeks if the expansion is given the green light, which will enable the improvement of existing facilities.