A CONSULTATION event to hear views on new schools in Bicester will take place next week.

About 9,000 new homes are planned to be built in the town over the next 18 years, and new primary and secondary schools will be needed to be built to cope with demand.

Oxfordshire County Council has launched the consultation on how new schools should be organised and delivered and is hosting a drop-in session at The Courtyard Hub on Launton Road on Tuesday from 3.30pm to 6pm.

Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan for development up to 2031 at the moment states there will be at least 5,000 homes in North West Bicester, 1,900 homes in Graven Hill, and about 2,200 in south west Bicester.

Across these sites new schools will be needed.

A further 400 homes are expected to be built in south east Bicester.

Melinda Tilley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for children, education and families, said: “We are keen to hear local views on the future of school provision in Bicester and I would urge people to come along to our drop-in event and respond to the consultation online.”

There will be another drop-in event on January 9, 2014, from 6pm to 8pm in the Chamber Room at Garth House, Launton Rd, Bicester. The consultation concludes on January 17, 2014.