FURTHER consultation between Wiltshire Council and families of children with Special Educational Needs closes today.

Wiltshire Council will decide how to create 220 extra school places during a cabinet meeting once the responses have been drawn together.

Parents fear that despite the threat of legal action, council leaders could agree to build one Centre of Excellence in Rowde, which has been highly petitioned against.

The SEND consultation was reopened after parents brought a legal case against the way the original consultation was carried out by the council that. It resulted in a bid to open a Centre of Excellence in Rowde, and possible closure of Larkrise and St Nicholas’ special schools.

During last Thursday's penultimate public meeting, campaigner Jan Winfield outlined some parents' visions, which included expanding Larkrise into the currently empty site on Ashton Street earmarked for development in 2014, and Chippenham school St Nicholas’ to be expanded or relocated within the town to create 140 extra pupil places.

She also argued Rowdeford school had space to expand for an extra 130 places.

Speaking at County Hall on Thursday night, she said: “Children with SEND are the last people we should be forcing to more every few years and expecting them to adjust. These arguments have been rehearsed to Wiltshire Council officers and yet location is not on their criteria list.”

Supporter Bob Grove, from Warminster, expressed concerns that the proposed school will become an “institution.”

He said: “The proposed school will be one of the largest of its type in the UK. Large institutions are inflexible because once a large building has been opened it can take decades to close it when needs change.”

Terence Herbert, Wiltshire Council’s executive director children and education said: “These meetings are an opportunity to discuss the best way to secure the future education for our children and young people with special needs and disabilities.

“We are holding these meetings because we want to work with families and staff to find a solution. We want to meet the need for additional places and improve outcomes for children and young people with special needs and disabilities who are educated in our mainstream schools, as well as special schools.”

Parents and lead campaigner Melissa Loveday, whose son goes to St Nicholas’ has criticised the revised consultation process and argued Wiltshire Council has maintained its focus on a one school solution.

She said: “The brewing resentment felt towards Wiltshire Council is reaching an all-time high.”

Disappointed by talks, families are preparing to fight another legal battle, should the one school approach be named as the council’s preference. She continued: “If the one-school option is what is proposed to Cabinet again, we will be forced to challenge it by any and all means necessary, including but not limited to legal action."