CORNWALL Council has been accused of ‘turning its back on Launceston yet again’ after it was heard a new school for Launceston will only have four classrooms, instead of seven, to start with.

Cllrs Leighton Penhale, John Harris and Paul O’Brien represented the town council at the meeting of Cornwall Councillors and Cornwall Council officers, which took place at County Hall, Truro, on Tuesday (June 21).

Cllr O’Brien, who reported back to a meeting of Launceston Town Council last week, said the meeting at County Hall was concerned ‘with Cornwall’s ability to fund a new school that’s scheduled up on Hurdon’ — known locally as ‘Hay Common School’.

He said there is a section 106 agreement for a four-class school — section 106 being legal agreements between local authorities and developers — but added: “At a recent Community Network Panel (CNP) meeting, they gave a commitment Cornwall Council would fund the additional three classrooms to bring it up to a seven-class school.” Cllr Harris added at the CNP meeting it was described as a ‘priority’.

Cllr Harris said: “What really became clear [at the meeting] is the four classes will be delivered because they are being delivered by the developer by the 106 agreement.

“Cornwall Council couldn’t guarantee the other three classes could be built and certainly not with council money. I don’t think there’s much chance of that at all.

“If it was built now [as a seven-class school] instead of being piecemeal it would be cheaper and more cost effective.”

They heard at the County Hall meeting that Cornwall Council would negotiate with the Education Funding Agency, in the hope it could supply the funding for the extra classrooms.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South Jade Farrington said: “Everyone sat round the table [at the meeting] was in agreement. We think it’s ludicrous, the officers think it’s ludicrous.

“The houses are being built, we need infrastructure. The issue is there is not the money — the government is not paying Cornwall Council the money needed.”

Cllr Farrington said of the local authority: “They say they were committed to building the school with seven classes and we had them arguing semantics today: ‘committed doesn’t mean we are going to do it’.”

She said Cornwall Councillor Andrew Wallis, portfolio holder for young people, had said the cost of school transport to Cornwall Council for across the county was £13-million. Cllr Harris said it would cost £1.1-million to build the extra three classrooms.

Mayor Brian Hogan asked if Cornwall Council would fund transport for children from Launceston to the surrounding rural schools, adding: “Already our schools are overcrowding. We need the school like yesterday.”

Cllr Dave Gordon said: “This school has been delayed already. It was due, the last date I was told, 2018 it’s going to be built.

“Cornwall Council have turned their back on this town and proved it yet again. This seven-class school was promised over 12 months ago.

“Cornwall Council are consistently turning their back on us. I think we should make a formal request to Cornwall Council to explain itself. We are being let down every week of every year.”

Cllr Jane Nancarrow said: “I find it incredible to think of how when some of us here were in primary school in Launceston, quite a long time ago, that there were three primary schools in Launceston.

“Here we are today still with three primary schools and look at the population and how it’s increased.

“Children are already being ferried out to the village schools. I think it’s appalling. We are really forgotten when it comes to primary education in Launceston.”

Cllr Rob Tremain said: “We are accepting the extra housing to what we thought but it’s the infrastructure we are being let down on every time. It just beggars belief.”

Cllr John Conway said: “The way schools are being funded hasn’t changed recently. Why is it the last 12 months Cornwall Council have been saying we will get a seven entry school, then suddenly say they can’t do it?

“They should have thought of this when we originally said we wanted a seven-class school.

“Where was this money going to come from beforehand? They must have had this money in a pot somewhere.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin Adam Paynter, who is also deputy leader of the authority and portfolio holder for resources, told the Post it would be ‘cheaper’ to build the additional classrooms while the building of the first four classes is underway, but added: “The council simply hasn’t got the money.”

Cllr Paynter said he hoped the four classrooms would be ready for September 2017, but added: “If any extra are needed this September they will look into the potential of any temporary classrooms or continue to send some out to a few schools nearby.

“It’s not ideal but that’s something they can do.”