THE FUTURE of another Macclesfield primary school is under threat following the informal consultation period for the Transforming Learning Communities review.

Cheshire County Council’s School Planning Select Panel has made further recommendations regarding possible changes, including earmarking Ash Grove Primary School for closure along with St Barnabas CE, St Edward’s RC, and either Bollington St John’s or Bollington Cross CE Primary Schools.

County Councillor Ken Edwards said: "The TLC review process that county councillor Nell Carter and I have commented on concentrated on the south because they say that’s where the most surplus places are and you can’t just go on taking facilities away from the south because then people will be going to the north and is that what we want?

"The consultation now proposes that three schools could close and in a sense that could make the situation worse.

"Is a one form entry school going to be able to cope with the demand? Is it going to be a faith school or community school?

"All these things have to be considered and what is good news is that CCC is looking at this very sensibly and they are taking time to think about it."

However, it is not all bad news as the panel has recommended the Lead Member for Children’s Services, County Coun David Rowlands, authorises consultations on the reduction of places at Ivy Bank be reduced from 378 to 315 and admission numbers from 54 to 45 pupils.

It also recommended that places at Puss Bank be reduced from 420 to 315 places, with admission numbers being decreased from 60 to 45 pupils.

The original proposed reductions were to 210 places.

County Coun Edwards said: "I was very pleased to hear about this as the proposals to reduce the numbers are not as much as they were going to be.

"The parents are not going to be forced elsewhere and CCC have listened to the very strong representations."

Most of the initial options published in October have been modified due to received responses.

The panel wants the progress made by the governing bodies of Bosley and Wincle regarding a possible federation to be noted.