NEW primary schools for children in Hob Moor, Fulford and Leeman Road came a step closer today after the Government approved the latest stage in plans to rebuild them.

City of York Council has been given approval by the Treasury to borrow £8.3 million under the Government's private-public partnership scheme to build the new schools.

The plans were first approved in principle in March last year, following a hard-fought campaign by the council and MPs Hugh Bayley and John Grogan, and backed by the Evening Press.

Now that the bid has got through the second stage, detailed plans will be drawn up for rebuilding Hob Moor Infant and Junior Schools as one primary school, St Oswald's at Fulford and St Barnabas School at Leeman Road.

The Hob Moor schools have long been known as "the tin school" because they were made of corrugated aluminium in the 1950s; the other two are using old, cramped buildings.

At Hob Moor, the Sure Start Partnership, concerned with supporting families with very young children, has been offered accommodation within the new building, and the plans for St Oswald's include the provision of a new library and community rooms.

Before any building work can begin there will be public consultation and planning permission will have to be achieved.

The new schools are scheduled to open in September 2005.

Coun Ruth Potter, education service spokesperson with City of York Council, said: "This is great news and I am absolutely delighted for the teachers and pupils of these schools, and I must pay tribute to all the hard work of council staff in securing this funding. The success of the bid means that the pupils of these schools will have a wonderful new learning environment and the schools will be at the heart of their communities."

Hugh Bayley said: "I have fought long and hard for the funding to rebuild Hob Moor and St Barnabas schools, and John Grogan, as MP for Selby, has argued for St Oswald's. I am thrilled that funding approval has now been given."

Updated: 15:17 Friday, April 12, 2002