PARENTS living on a new estate near Trowbridge are worried a promised secondary school for their children will never be built.

A 20-acre site in Green Lane at Paxcroft Mead was allocated for a school in West Wiltshire District Council's district plan in 1998.

However, in a pre-public inquiry change, this allocation has now been removed and a proviso added that the land be safeguarded for future housing development.

Mark Russell, planning policy manager for the district council, confirmed the allocation had been removed but said no final decision would be made on what will be done with the land until after a public enquiry, due to be opened on March 12, once the whole district plan has been completed.

He said: "This site was allocated for a secondary school in 1998, in response to the county council's education department informing us there was a need for another school in the area.

"We have now removed the allocation because the county council have resolved to expand existing schools."

One concerned parent, who did not want to be named, said: "Most people I know firmly believe there is a need for a secondary school and don't believe the site at Green Lane should be sold for anything else.

"There is already a high pupil level in other schools in the area and a lot of new houses have been built on the eastern side, so something is needed out that way. Some schools don't have any room to expand."

Malcolm Dodds, senior education officer for Wiltshire County Council, said: "From the county council's point of view, we would prefer this site to be maintained for a secondary school."