Work begins on Ashford Carbonell primary school

Work today started on a new £3.9 million primary school in a south Shropshire village. The scheme has divided public opinion across the community.

Contractors today moved diggers on to the site in Ashford Carbonell, near Ludlow, which will be the new home of Bishop Hooper Primary School.

The school is due to move from its existing home in nearby Caynham to the new purpose-built school, which will offer better facilities for pupils.

It comes as police launched an investigation into a series of malicious posters which were put up around the village regarding the school proposals.

The school plan has split public opinion, with some claiming it is essential and others claiming there are few children living in Ashford Carbonell to benefit from it. Planning permission for the school was granted in September.

Bishop Hooper School was created in September 2009 by the merger of primary schools in Ashford Carbonell and Caynham and has been at the Caynham site ever since.

Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "This fantastic new school will benefit many Shropshire children and will help them fulfil their full potential by giving them a state-of-the-art facility. We will continue to work closely with the community as work progresses."

Regarding the investigation, Sergeant Steve Fitzpatrick, of Ludlow police, said: "Posters have been sent in to us and we are now involved and looking into this.

"The local policing officers are now engaging with all parties and we would actively encourage that all parties maintain dialogue with regards to this matter."