A COUNTY councillor is demanding a new primary school is opened by September 2016 for families moving into a new estate in Wallingford.

Last year, South Oxfordshire District Council agreed that 555 homes should be built at Slade End Farm, off Wantage Road, and council leader Ann Ducker said building work should begin as soon as possible.

Now parents in the town are being invited to give their opinion on how schooling for the new estate should be provided.

Independent county councillor for Wallingford Lynda Atkins said one option would be to build a new primary school at Slade End Farm and open it as an academy.

St Nicholas Infants’ School in St Nicholas Road, for pupils aged three to seven, and Fir Tree Junior School in Radnor Road, for pupils aged seven to 11, would continue to operate as they do now.

Ms Atkins said the second option would be for St Nicholas Infant School to relocate to Slade End Farm and extend its age range to 11.

Under this second option, Fir Tree Junior would also become a primary school for pupils aged up to 11.

Ms Atkins said: “What is clear is that we are going to need a new primary school and we are asking people how they think that should be achieved.

An opinion survey will run from Monday until Thursday, March 28, with leaflets distributed to parents at Fir Tree and St Nicholas schools.