A NEW school in Usher Lane should be considered by councillors deciding on the future of primary schools in Haxby and Wigginton, it was argued today.

Jeffrey Henderson, chairman of Haxby Conservatives, has come up with a plan which he hopes would solve the problem of falling numbers in the area caused by an ageing population.

Parents are to be consulted on various options for the future primary education in Haxby and Wigginton in the autumn.

One of the options is to close Oaken Grove Primary School - an idea which has prompted the formation of a parents' action group.

Mr Henderson's Conservative colleague, Coun Gerald Dean, has already suggested a merger of Oaken Grove Primary School and Ralph Butterfield in a new school, at a full meeting of the City of York Council, but he was voted down.

Now Mr Henderson has revealed details of a potential site he has identified, stretching along Crookland Lane, reached via an access road from Usher Lane, and backing on to the bottom of Larch Way and Lowfield Drive.

He has leafleted the catchment areas of the two schools, which are a few minutes' walk apart, with his plans.

He said his proposal would involve a single-storey school, which could offer facilities for community activities, including a swimming pool, a hall, a gym and sports fields.

The cost could be met through Government grants given for cutting surplus places, the sale of the sites of the two schools and working on a private finance initiative deal. The community facilities might attract lottery funding.

The site would also solve potential problems associated with the building of the new railway station and car park at Haxby, he said.

Coun Janet Looker, executive member for education, said: "We will be putting forward a whole range of options for the area, one of which is not doing anything at all and one of which is the proposal that the Conservatives have put forward. It will be one of many options."

The consultation is due to take place in the autumn term.

Oaken Grove parent Di Starr said: "Personally I would not object to the idea of merging Oaken Grove and Ralph Butterfield, but I would like to hear more details about possible locations and logistics."

She said the Oaken Grove Parents' Action Group would be discussing the idea and other options at their next meeting.