Parents claim they've been kept in the dark over controversial plans to change the catchment areas for primary schools in Burgess Hill.

West Sussex County Council wants to redefine the catchment areas to stop some schools being oversubscribed while others are left with surplus places.

Head teachers, governors and the council have been discussing the changes since January but parents say they were only informed last week.

Many of them fear the boundary changes will be unfair and could mean children being unable to attend the same school as their siblings.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: "If there are changes to catchment areas then the parents should have an important part to play in the decision making and need a transition period of time for existing pupils and their siblings.

"There should also be a reconsideration of some of the proposed areas, which appear to have been as arbitrary as putting pins in a map."

But a West Sussex County Council spokeswoman denied consultation had been lacking.

She said: "The consultation is happening now. We first had to have a full consultation with head teachers and school governors. That process began last January but was interrupted by the election process. They have had various comments to make."

She said parents' views would be taken into account but it was not the council's normal policy to hold public meetings over changes in catchment areas.

If passed, the proposals will take effect from September 2002.

The council said changing the boundaries was a long-term strategy to cope with oversubscribing in certain schools and the overall surplus of places.

The spokeswoman added: "We keep up to date with demographic changes and are notified about any developments that could affect school provision.

"We have taken into account proposed new housing developments in the Burgess Hill area."

Burgess Hill has about 400 more primary school places than there are children. Recent housing developments have failed to add significantly to the number of children in the town.

But new housing has redistributed them and the area served by the Gattons Infant School and Southway Junior School now has more children than it has places.

In contrast, there are not enough children in the Sheddingdean, Manor Field and Birchwood Grove areas to fill those schools.

Parents of children currently attending Burgess Hill primary schools have until August 10 to send their written comments to the council.

Gattons head Sue Davidson said: "The school acknowledges there is a problem with admissions in Burgess Hill but there has been insufficient consultation of parents and a lack of information about the implications for them and the school."