A SCHOOL has "paused" its plans to create a new nursery - after concerns were raised.

Shibden Head Primary Academy in Queensbury, which is part of the Focus Trust, entered into a public consultation period to build a new nursery at its site, creating places for 60 children.

But company owners running existing nurseries in the area did not want the proposals to go ahead, arguing the planned new setting would potentially affect their businesses.

Concerns were also raised around a surge in parking around the school if the plans went ahead.

The school's headteacher Lucy Shaw has now confirmed the proposals have been "paused" in light of the comments received during the public consultation.

She said: "I have spent the last few weeks reading emails, talking to residents, parents, and some of the local community about their thoughts and feelings about the planned project.

"It was clear that the main concerns at this present time were sufficiency of nursery places and the parking around school.

"Therefore, as the headteacher I have reflected on our current priorities, and I have made the decision that we pause our plans to open the school-led nursery."

After the proposals were first announced, the United Nurseries of Queensbury said in a statement: "There are currently already four private nurseries and two school nurseries in the village.

"None of the providers are currently full to capacity. 

"We worry that another large nursery in an already undersubscribed area will cause massive sustainability issues for the current nurseries, which could result in the potential closure of these settings and the loss of around 60 local jobs."

This week, after the school's latest announcement, a spokesperson for the United Nurseries of Queensbury said: "The United Nurseries of Queensbury is very pleased that Shibden Head Primary Academy has at this present time decided to 'pause' its consultation into opening a new nursery in an area that if it went ahead would affect the sustainability of all the other local settings in Queensbury."

"We still intend to meet with our local MP as this is an issue that has been replicated across the country.  

"The National Day Nurseries Association has supported our objections and will continue to keep the pressure on the Department for Education civil servants and ministerial team on this issue."