ASHFORD council leader Paul Clokie has thrown his weight behind plans to merge primary schools in the borough.

Cllr Clokie was speaking as the proposals to merge six schools into three in order to reduce the number of spare seats in classrooms were put before councillors at their latest meting.

Members of the overview and scrutiny resources and best value committee met with Kent County Council area education officer, David Adams.

Cllr Clokie said that despite Ashford’s growth he doubted it would see an influx of children to fill the spare spaces.

“The principle of amalgamating infants and juniors is one I totally support,” he said.

“I really don’t see a vast number of children going through from primary school age.

“I can see them being born in Ashford but I think their parents will be moving by the time they are five.”

The proposals, due to go out to public consultation, would see primary schools in Hothfield and Charing merge and be based at the Charing site, Ashford South amalgamate with Oak Tree, and Beaver Green Infant School and Hopewell Junior School combine.

Councillors were concerned about transporting children to the schools, ensuring community facilities provided by the existing schools continued to be offered and staff redundancies.

Speaking about redundancies, Mr Adams said: “We are talking about the loss of a couple of posts but we will find that people will have retired or decided the amalgamation is not for them and taken it as a time to move on.”

Councillors also questioned why Brisley Farm, Kingsnorth, has been pencilled in as a site for a new school, something they felt was not necessary so close to the soon-to-be-built John Wesley School.

Their comments will be passed on to KCC as part of their consultation process.