AN EXTRA 450 secondary school places could be created in Brighton and Hove if a bid to the Government for up to £12 million gets the go-ahead.

Education chiefs at Brighton and Hove Council have put together plans to build extensions to Dorothy Stringer School, Patcham High School and Varndean School, which would create an additional 150 places at each one.

At present there is growing pressure on the number of secondary school places in the area, with school waiting lists overflowing.

And education officials fear there could be a crisisin a couple of years if actionis not taken. They believe these plans will be the solution.

Plans currently being drawn include providing extra facilities at Patcham High School in Ladies Mile Road for up to 25 vulnerable children with special needs.

There would also be a new library and community block at Patcham High School, with the old library and canteen being demolished.

Extra facilities, possibly including a film studio and computer suite, are also earmarked for East Brighton College of Media Arts, formerly Marina High School, which opened in September, under the fresh start initiative.

Education chiefs are currently consulting with head teachers and governors for their views on the plans.

A public meeting will be held to give the people of Patcham a chance to hear about the proposals and put questions to council officials.

The open meeting will take place on Tuesday at 7.15pm in the canteen of Patcham High School.

As well as building extensions to house the extra

classrooms, a refurbishment programme would take place at all the schools involved.

Ged Rowney, assistant director of resources at Brighton and Hove Council, said: "There is great pressure on the number of secondary school places at the moment.

"Unless we do something and make more places available in the next two years the schools will be bursting at the seams.

"But we have to make sure everybody is on board and with us on the plans. So we are holding a public meeting in Patcham to ask the community for their input."

Mr Rowney said: "The plans as a whole will benefit communities across Brighton tremendously.

"But what we have to remember is that at the moment these are just plans and things are changing and being reviewed all the time."

Concern has already

been raised by the Patcham Community Association about them.

Frank Wass, Secretary of the Patcham Community Association, said he was worried that local people would not benefit from the deal.

Mr Wass said: "No clear assurances were forthcoming that residents would benefit from the changes."

Patcham Tory Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, who first proposed alterations to the campus a year ago, said: "I am concerned that the association should not be squeezed out."

But Coun Theobald added that Patcham was short of facilities and the redevelopment provided an opportunity for a much better centre for the community.

The final plans have to be submitted to the Department of Education and Employment by February and a decision will be made by April.

If the plans get the go-ahead the schools should be extended by 2002.

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