A NEWLY-opened village school is at the centre of a planning wrangle after it was discovered the building was erected in the wrong place.

North Yorkshire County Council planning officer Eric Matthews said from the original planning application the school at Grewelthorpe had been moved four and a half metres to the south and two metres to the west.

Some members of North Yorkshire County Council planning committee expressed concern when they met to consider the issue at a meeting this week, said Mr Matthews.

He said governors at Grewelthorpe Church of England Primary School, near Ripon, had applied to the county council to maintain the school on its present site and, in effect, secure retrospective planning permission. Mr Matthews said the county council had been made aware of the situation by visiting the site in connection with another matter.

Coun Mrs Heather Garnett, acting committee chairman, said members had decided to hold a site visit and consider the application at a later date.

Meanwhile Mr Matthews said options open to councillors would be giving approval on its present site "as it stands," approval with conditions or refusal of the application.

Asked what would happen if the application was refused Mr Matthews commented: "That is a very interesting question."

A report to councillors said five letters had been tabled about the proposal, two opposing it and three in support.

Objectors were concerned that the proposal was "in effect retrospective." And there was also concern that the re-sited school had a "significant adverse impact upon the privacy of adjoining residential properties and their gardens."

Letters of support gave backing for the design and external appearance of the school in relation to its surroundings.

And there was also support for the new school "as a facility to ensure the long-term viability of the school and the wider community."

In his report to councillors Mr Matthews said the application had been justified on the basis that the existing school playground needed to be available while the new school building was under construction.

Meanwhile a report from Harrogate Borough Council welcomed the repositioning but expressed concern about the design and appearance. Its planners felt it detracted from the visual amenity of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty