PARENTS have given their support to a new schools building programme.

Council officials report a positive feedback to consultation sessions with parents as more details emerged about the multi-million pound project envisaged for Saltburn.

The plan is for an integrated campus, with a new Huntcliff secondary school, a move to a single site for the present Saltburn Primary School and the completion of a children's centre on-site.

Funding is already in place for the children's centre, but a further £11.5m allocation is being made by the Department for Education and Skills through its Targeted Capital Fund.

This represents 80 per cent of the projects cost, with the remaining 20 per cent to come from the sale of the surplus sites.

It is hoped the 520-place secondary school will open in September 2008, with the primary school ready for occupancy the following year.

The children's centre will provide integrated services and support for families, as well as a base for Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust.

The first phase of the scheme will be building the secondary school, then linking the two new blocks - the humanities block and a resource centre, including a library and an ICT suite.

The existing secondary school will than be demolished, providing car parking for staff, parents and visitors.

Parents were given a rundown of the planned phasing for construction of what will be called the Saltburn Learning Campus at consultation meetings.

Councillor Steve Kay, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for education, said: "Council officers are pleased the meetings went very well and the parents were very supportive of what we are trying to do.

"All the questions and comments will be taken into account. The council has explained that these are outline plans, not how the final buildings will look.

"That will emerge when we've gone out to tender to appoint architects and engineers.''

Coun Kay added: "We will be keeping everyone up-to-date with regular articles in the council's River, Coast and Country magazine and, of course, there will be formal consultation with residents as part of the planning process."