HUNDREDS of concerned parents have voiced their fears over plans to reorganise primary education in Otley.

More than 300 people packed into a hall at Prince Henry's Grammar School on Tuesday in the first of two meetings to discuss the

proposals by Leeds City Council.

It plans to replace three infant, one junior and one primary school in the town with three new primary schools - on the sites of All Saints Infants, Ashfield Infants and Westgate Infants. Both All Saints Juniors and Thomas Chippendale will close.

But the council says it will now look at

keeping the same teachers on at the new schools - and recommend additional

recruitment from staff at the closed schools.

Traffic congestion on the Cambridge Estate, disruption to children's education, choice of the wrong sites and what would happen to the proceeds of sold-off buildings were just some of the points raised.

In the sometimes angry meeting, some

parents argued that their schools were better placed to remain open than others.

However, others called for calm and pointed out that whatever happened, everyone would have to live together after the reorganisation.

Concerns were also raised about the length of time parents and teachers had been given to consider the proposals.

And many pointed out that children would be upset by having to move schools and then move back to the original school - if it was one that had been adapted.

Eric Reed, acting director of education, and Councillor Tom Murray, executive board member for lifelong learning and leisure, stressed that no final decision had been made and that changes could be made to the

proposals.

But he said something had to be done to solve the over-supply of primary school places in the town - there are currently 1,300 places and just 800 children with the number expected to reduce even more next year.

Mr Reed warned: "At the end of this process everyone in Otley will have to live together

happily and the children will have to go to school and be educated."

He also stressed that the proposals had nothing to do with money and that any proceeds made from the sell-off of buildings would be used first to make any necessary adaptations.

"We are not here to save money, we are here to use money better. "

And he pointed out that All Saints Junior School, North Parade, belonged to the Bradford Diocese so the council would not benefit from its sale. "If we close All Saints, the land belongs to the Diocese of Bradford and as far as Leeds is concerned it will not get anything."

Mr Reed said they could consider changing the character of schools, rather than opt for them to be closed and reopened - allowing schools to reopen with the same teachers.

It would mean that schools would retain their characters with the same head teacher, staff and governing body, which would then be given the opportunity recruit teachers from the closed schools.

Coun Murray said he was not out to make money out of the reorganisation.

"I have set out to make sure that you get the best possible education for children and real value for money, you will have to trust me to do that."

l Another public meeting is due to be held this evening from 7.15pm at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Farnley Lane, Otley.