COUNCILLORS have agreed to push ahead with plans to create a "super school" in York, despite uncertainties over funding, and local people look set to have their say on the future of a closed city school at a public meeting.

City of York Council's approval committee agreed to move immediately to phase two of the work to convert Canon Lee School to extend its capacity from 550 to an eventual 900.

The authority will use its own balances to carry out the work, as officers had told the committee that though a decision had not yet been made on their bid for an additional £1 million of Government cash, "a positive response is not anticipated".

As a result, councillors agreed to increase the education capital programme by £1.3 million gross, to a total of £4.1 million.

Council leader Coun Rod Hills said they clearly needed to do the work, and Liberal Democrat leader Coun Steve Galloway backed that view, though he expressed anxiety that pupils at Canon Lee had not yet returned from their summer holidays due to the ongoing work.

The committee also agreed to invite residents from the catchment area of the closed Queen Anne's School to a public meeting at the site to discuss the four bids to buy and convert it.

The current favourite is a £4.8 million one from St Peter's School for a solely educational use, partly because the other three bids also involve a housing use for the site, which officers fear could lead to traffic problems in the area.