WORK to create a new primary school in Marlborough will start in July after a planning committee voted in favour of allowing the new building to go-ahead.

Anne Schwodler, who is head of the new St Mary's Primary School was delighted at the decision by the eastern area planning committee which was made despite Marlborough Town Council objecting to the plan.

She said: "It is brilliant news, a fantastic opportunity for the whole of Marlborough and to shape the future of education. Why would anyone want to turn it down?

"I think the planners saw that it was an opportunity too good to miss."

Both St Mary's infants and St Peter's juniors will remain open until the new joint school is completed next September. Once the new school is built at George Lane the old St Mary's will be demolished and a car park for the new school will be built.

Mark Thomas, chairman of the new school's governors, said: "The governors are obviously delighted that the Wiltshire planning committee unanimously resolved to grant planning permission for the new school on Thursday evening and would like to thank all those who wrote to the council expressing support for the project.

"This was the last major hurdle to be crossed and will allow the contracts for the new building to be finalised over the coming days ready to begin construction in early July.

"We are now very close to getting our brand new primary school for the children of Marlborough."

Members of the committee were also happy to see the plans go through, commenting on the need for a new primary school in the town.

Committee chairman Charles Howard said: “It went more smoothly than I expected, the only issue was the parking but everyone was happy with the design of the school and happy that the school is going to be built.

“This will mean there will be an excellent primary school in Marlborough, which is needed as St Peter’s is quite old now.”

The main issue that arose throughout the meeting was the impact the traffic would have on the area, with the new school backing onto Duck Meadow.

Gordon Hutt who lives in Ducks Meadow spoke out at the meeting against fears over extra traffic.

To address the parking and traffic concerns the committee discussed the school travel plan which will be enforced. The plan detailed how parents will be urged not to use Ducks Meadow when picking up their children but instead go to the George Lane parking.

Parents who live between 500-1,000 metres from the school will also be given permits.

To make sure that the plans will benefit the nearby residents, the school committee and the highways committee will review the plans after the school opens.