School buildings might turn into houses (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

School buildings might turn into houses

PLANS to convert the former primary school buildings in Sherston in to houses are to come under the spotlight at a public meeting next week.

The owner of the High Street site, the Diocese of Bristol, have submitted plans for the conversion to North Wiltshire District Council.

The diocese wants to demolish the single storey extension, which contained the school's kitchen, and change the remaining buildings to four residential units with two new dwellings being erected in the playground.

An alternative application, to convert the old school buildings into two houses has also been lodged with the district council.

Sherston Parish Council is concerned about the development and has organised a public meeting in the village hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday (March 2) to allow residents to voice their concerns.

Parish councillor Cilla Liddington said: "It is a fairly large playground, but even so, as a parish council we are not happy about it at all.

"Over the last two years we have had over 70 houses either built of planning permission given, and we would really prefer a commercial development on this site to create more jobs in the village.

"We are concerned about the affects on the village hall next to it, it may curtail the use of the hall, particularly at the weekends when it's used to capacity.

"This whole thing is quite an issue in the village. It's in the conservation area and it would be a shame if we built more residential homes there."