The long hunt for a new home for a dilapidated school could be over this week when councillors consider a planning application by an MP.

Kirklees' Council's Heavy Woollen planning committee will discuss Mike Wood's plans for the relocation of Whitcliffe Road First and Nursery School in Cleckheaton.

Mr Wood lodged the plans for land off St Peg Lane after a row about Kirklees Council's proposals to move the school to Rawfolds Way.

Mr Wood (Lab, Batley and Spen) said he thought the Council's application for Rawfolds Way, which is on the corner of Spen Valley Industrial Park, was unsafe.

It was the 14th location looked at by the authority which says a "perfect replacement site" does not exist.

Mr Wood believes that the site off St Peg Lane, which is partly owned by Tesco, would be more appropriate.

In a report to go before the committee the plan have been recommended for approval.

Terry Tordoff, a spokesman for Mr Wood, said: "The Rawfolds Way application has been in for over a year and they are still waiting for traffic assessment details.

"Quite simply, we have set out to show that Peg Lane is a viable site. We wanted to show the Council that they had overlooked a suitable site.

"I hope that it is passed on Thursday. If it were passed and approved down the line then a compulsory purchase order from Tesco could be put on the land."

In the report, planning officers explained that at least 14 locations had been considered as suitable school sites.

It stated: "A perfect replacement site does not exist and therefore any site will inevitably have some disadvantages.

"Whilst there are practical difficulties in developing this site and development would result in the loss of a housing site in a sustainable location, on balance the opportunity to satisfy a critical need for improved school facilities in the community is considered to be overriding."

If planning permission is granted, the scheme will be referred to the Highways and Planning Committee and then to the Secretary of State John Prescott - as a departure from the Unitary Development Plan because the land has been earmarked for housing.

l The committee will also decide about Persimmon Homes' plans 221 houses and 69 flats with garages on the Gomersal Mills site in Spen Lane, Gomersal.

Twenty-six letters of objection have been received but the Council's planning officers have recommended approval for the scheme.

The committee will meet on Thursday at 12.30pm at Dewsbury Town Hall on Wakefield Road.