A CONSULTATION period will begin on Monday over plans to expand St Peter’s Primary School in Portishead.

Proposals to extend the school building to accommodate an additional 180 pupils are currently being drawn up.

The school has a roll of 438, but including the temporary classroom installed in 2011, can take up to 450 pupils.

North Somerset Council wants to increase it to a 650 pupil school in time for the September 2014 intake, which could solve the forecast shortage of reception places in the town over the coming years.

A spokesman for the authority said: “A consultation will start on January 21 when details of the plans will be available.

“Two public meetings will be held in Portishead which will provide an opportunity for members of the public to view the plans, ask questions and have their say on the proposals.”

The meetings, scheduled for January 30 at 7.30pm at the Folk Hall and February 1 at 9.30am at the Methodist Church, High Street, are expected to be confirmed by the council on January 21.

An action group has been set up by a number of parents at St Peter’s who fear the expansion would lead to major road safety and access issues.

To address these issues, North Somerset Council is negotiating the purchase of a piece of land adjacent to the school to provide additional car parking and a drop-off point for pupils.

To provide parents with choice and help solve the school places shortage, The Village Quarter Trust has submitted an application for funding to open a free school in Portishead in 2014.

Meanwhile the search continues to find a solution to the predicted shortfall of reception places in the town for September 2013.