CHILDREN and pupils could be expected to travel between split school sites across town in Warminster if new housing proposals go ahead.

Kingdown School currently has space for 1660 pupils, however an extra 160 school places could be required in the town within five years, through the 900 home Urban Extension and proposed sites in Bore Hill farm and Boreham Road and land East of Dene, known as Home Farm.

It was hoped a new secondary school would be built for the town using money given by developers, however an extension or expansion to the current school now seems more likely.

The extension to Kingdown, part of Acorn Academy, on Woodstock Road would be located in the approved Urban Extension site to the West of the town and would probably be used by either year seven or sixth form students say Wiltshire Council.

Future housing and growth fo the town was discussed during an inspection of Wiltshire Council's Housing Allocation Site Plan by Secretary of State inspector Steven Lee in Civic Centre, Trowbridge.

Mike Perry, of the Bishopstow Village Meeting residents group added: “The school is full, it’s on a constrained site, the Western Urban Extension is not for a new school. Throwing money at it on split site is not a solution. If there is an annex for pupils it will be across town, exacerbating traffic issues."

Developers said at least £134k of section 106 money paid to communities for improved infrastructure had been earmarked to improve Kingdown School.

Speaking to inspector Steven Lee Wiltshire Council planning officer said: “There is sufficient capacity to meet the need met by development.”