Worthing MP Tim Loughton backs fight to save Springfield Infant School

By Karen Dunn, local democracy reporter
Published 4th Jan 2023, 16:42 BST
Updated 4th Jan 2023, 16:42 BST
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A Worthing MP plans to speak to West Sussex County Council about what he called a ‘very poor and last-minute’ consultation into proposed school changes.

Tim Loughton (Con, East Worthing & Shoreham) added his voice to more than 1,000 who have signed a petition opposing plans to merge Springfield Infants, Lyndhurst Infants and Chesswood Juniors into an all-through primary school using the Chesswood and Springfield sites.

The proposals were put forward by the council as part of its plans to phase out 953 primary school places across Worthing and Durrington from September 2024.

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The council reported that some 1,500 places – around 17 per cent of the area’s total – were not being used and launched a consultation at the end of November.

MP Tim Loughton supporting Springfield Infant SchoolMP Tim Loughton supporting Springfield Infant School
MP Tim Loughton supporting Springfield Infant School

While Mr Loughton said he understood the rationale for merging Chesswood and Lyndhurst ‘where there are significant shortfalls on the school roll’, he could not see the logic of including Springfield.