PRIMARY school provision in Otley is to be reviewed in a bid to cut down surplus empty spaces.

Almost a third of the available places in the town's schools are unfilled - with 100 more expected in the next three years.

Already there are fears that it will lead to the closure or joining together of at least one school - although the council has said it will also look at alternative uses of empty classrooms.

There is a serious over-provision of school places in the town with 400 empty places out of the 1,250 available at the start of the year and 100 more predicted by 2004.

And Thomas Chippendale Primary School has already been identified by OfSTED as having 'serious weaknesses'.

Schools are well aware of the situation and have indicated to Leeds City Council that they would prefer a review as soon as possible.

Now, informal talks are to take place with the town's six primary and junior schools.

They will try to come up with ways of tackling the high and worsening numbers of empty spaces.

On Monday, Leeds City Council's Executive Board agreed to start consultation with the schools.

Councillors were told there were no plans to close schools and that every effort would be made to look into ways of utilising empty classrooms including community use.

A report will go back to the Executive Board and until then the council said there are no firm proposals for the future of Otley schools.

But Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) has predicted the

consultation will result in either the joining together or the closure of at least one school.

"South of the River Wharfe and excluding St Joseph's, there is currently 37 per cent spare capacity in the three schools.

"This is forecast to rise to nearly 50 per cent within the next three years which is a staggering figure."

And he added the situation on the north of the river was even worse.

"Apart from The Whartons, the situation is even worse with Ashfield Infants and Thomas Chippendale virtually half empty."

Coun Fox, who is blaming the situation on the council for failing to deal with falling school numbers during the last reorganisation said: "Whatever the council says the indications are they are hell bent on closing one or possibly two of Otley's schools.

"This would cause enormous difficulties for many parents criss-crossing the town to get often very young children to and from school.

"I am sure there would be a huge reaction against any closures and every effort must be made to make best use of surplus accommodation for other purposes."

The schools involved in the talks are: All Saints CoE Junior School, North Parade; All Saints CoE Infants School, Lisker Drive; St Joseph's RC Primary School, Manor Square; The Whartons Primary School, The Whartons; Thomas Chippendale Primary School, Weston Ridge; Ashfield Infants School, Weston Lane.

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