PLANS to reduce Pembroke Primary School, Chepstow into a 210-place facility will not involve selling off the playing field, promised a leading councillor.

Cllr Peter Fox, the cabinet member for lifelong learning made his pledge at last week's meeting of Monmouthshire County Council cabinet when they agreed to consult on the recommendations of the working group. They want to get rid of the surplus places in Chepstow by reducing the capacity of Pembroke School from 420 places to 210, with a 52-place nursery. Currently there are 339 surplus places between Pembroke, The Dell and Thornwell primary schools, and this is expected to rise in the future.

The refurbishment will include a stand-alone nursery similar to Undy and Overmonnow and a 20-place special needs unit with an all-through primary assessment unit and facilities for seriously disabled children, including a sensory room.

The existing playgroup will be accommodated in an extended stand-alone building with the nursery. The junior building will be remodelled to allow the demolition of the infant block, and there will be four junior classrooms on the first floor and three for infants on the ground floor.

Cllr Fox explained: "We have spoken to parents, governors, staff and the public and there was great concern about the nature reserve and playing fields being sold off.

"The proposal is to retain both, but it may be possible to sell the surplus land where the infant block is demolished."

Cllr Fox said to retain Pembroke School as a 420-place would mean it was doomed to fail because there are not enough children in the area to keep it going, even taking into account planned new housing developments.

The council leader Cllr Andrew Crump said the consultation process would give everyone the chance to have their say about the proposals. Cllr Phil Hobson said he was pleased with every aspect of the report they were discussing, the only thing missing is mention of the provision of a safe crossing over the busy road.

Opposition leader Cllr Rob Griffiths asked if the council should be expanding Pembroke School instead of placing demountables at The Dell. But Cllr Peter Fox said the council had to consider parental preference in their schools' strategy.

The local member, Cllr Pam Birchall said staff and governors were very disappointed that the recommendation was to reduce the capacity at the school. She said a petition complaining about selling off school land now had hundreds of signatures. She added: "It should not be sold off while there is no park for children to play with swings and a slide. We need somewhere for toddlers to go. It should be kept for community use."