CONCERNS have been raised over parking and access at a proposed ‘super school’ for Hakin and Hubberston, after parents, staff and local residents were given a chance to examine plans.

The proposed design for a new primary school for the area went on display at two ‘drop-in sessions’ in Milford Haven last week, ahead of submission to county council planners today (Wednesday).

The plans are for an environmentally sustainable school, fitted with solar panels and combined heat and power (CHP) facilities.

It will incorporate pupils from Hakin’s existing two sites, and Hubberston VC School, with the name decided by the new school’s shadow governing body.

Local resident David Rye, 73, whose wife worked as a learning support assistant in Hubberston for many years, feared the school would lose its ‘family atmosphere’ in the new development.

“It doesn’t seem sensible to destroy small schools where children know all the staff and vice versa, and replace them with a new one so big that won’t be the case,” he said.

Mr Rye also criticised the planned parking provision, which would see just 41 spaces provided for a predicted 76 members of staff (full and part-time), with ‘no clear provision for parents to drop off children’.

“It’s ludicrous,” he said.

In documents submitted as part of the planning application, it is predicted that ‘not all staff will be on-site at the same time’ and that staff are ‘envisaged to car share’, however adds that ‘the parking situation will need to be revised in relation to the expansion of the mainstream school to 480 pupils’.

It later states that 510 pupils are expected to attend the new school.

County councillor for Hubberston ward, Viv Stoddart, said residents from Haven Drive were questioning whether they would retain free access and parking to the rear of their homes once the bus turning area was installed, and had also raised concerns about a potential ‘bottleneck’ on the proposed single-track east access to the new school, via the entrance to the rugby club, and a ‘hazardous loss of visibility’ if parents started parked on Gelliswick Road.

“I was pleased to hear council officers at the presentation say that the traffic management scheme is not set in stone, and the current plan is open to amendments,” said Cllr Stoddart.

“My impression is that many families are still not reconciled to the controversial new school. Hubberston parents were keen for Hakin to have its long-promised and badly-needed new building.

“But they wanted their treasured Hubberston School to maintain its independent status, with money invested on its refurbishment.”

Paul Hughes, challenge advisor for Pembrokeshire County Council, said there had been a positive reaction to the ‘quality’ of the intended project.

“Most people have recognised the new building would provide improved facilities and learning,” he said.

He acknowledged that car parking and the size of the new school had been raised as issues, but said that the ‘record of wellbeing’ at both schools would continue, despite an increase in pupil numbers.

Comments on the application can be made until August 5, search for 15/0321/PA on the county council's website.