SETTLE'S new primary school will open in September 2002, it was announced this week.

The news came days after Booths supermarkets revealed it would start building its foodstore on Bond Lane field in the new year.

Proceeds from the sale of the land are to be used to build the new school. It will replace the existing building in Upper Settle, will cost around £1.1million and will have six classrooms plus a nursery and playing field on-site.

Settle Primary School, built around 1857, has been suffering from space difficulties for some time. The nursery is run at another location in Settle, and there is no on-site playing field.

Primary school headteacher Ian Parker said: "It is fantastic news. It is long, long overdue and I think the whole town will benefit.

"The frustrations of having to teach in this building have been building up over the years. It is not at all suitable for the 21st century and a new school is only what the children of Settle deserve."

Mr Parker, his staff and governors have been told they will have a lot of input in the detail of the new school.

"The architect is going to be heavily involved with the governors. We have already seen a design and we really like it."

Mr Parker said everyone at the school was particularly pleased to be getting an on-site playing field.

He added he was looking forward to the luxuries which most schools take for granted - no thoroughfares through the middle of classrooms, space at the back of classrooms for IT bays, display boards at levels where children could read them, a room for literacy hour, private space where parents could be seen, parking and a room for the school secretary.

Another big plus, said Mr Parker, would be the on-site nursery, which could at last feel like part of the school instead of a separate entity.

Cynthia Welbourn, North Yorkshire's director of education, said: "I am delighted that we are able to move forward to provide Settle Church of England School with a building fit for the new century. There are exciting times ahead for the governors, staff and children at the school."

o Chairman of Settle Chamber of Trade Tony Price welcomed the news about Booths and the primary school.

He said: "I have always thought it was what Settle needed. I think it will bring more people into the town and we as a chamber have to work towards improving the town centre."

Booths is building on part of Bond Lane and on land bought from Settle businessman Stan Jordan.

Mr Jordan's agent, Trevor Graveson, said: "Mr Jordan hopes the foodstore will prove to be a successful retail anchor for the town, with the obvious bonus of a new primary school."

Picture by Stephen Garnett.