Villagers say they would prefer to keep their Victorian school building

Education officials say the current Victorian school building in Devoran, near Truro, lacks modern facilities and they want to replace it.

But some villagers claim the proposed new building would be sited near a dangerous road.

Villagers are holding a public meeting on Wednesday night to protest about the plans.

Sally Symons, who has three children at the 180-pupil school, said she wanted to keep the current school.

There are a lot of schools both in Cornwall and further afield that would cry out for the facilities that will be available with the relocated school Richard Williams, school governors' chairman

"It is a really nice, family-orientated school where the kids know the teachers and the parents know each other.

"I don't like the proposed lay-out of the new school. It looks a bit like a factory. It lacks that family feel about it."

The start of construction work on a new bypass, from which the new school was to be accessed, has been delayed by a year and this has heightened concerns about safety.

Another parent, Hilary Rogers, said: "It is a very narrow road with a blind corner on it.

"It will be full of buses, cars and people and there is just not enough room."

Governors 'disappointed'

The new school will also include an extra classroom for 30 more children, raising fears among residents that it will encourage more houses to be built in the village.

The school governors say they are disappointed by the opposition to the plans.

Chairman of governors, Richard Williams, said there was an overwhelming case for a new school.

He said: "There are a lot of schools, both in Cornwall and further afield, that would cry out for the facilities that will be available with the relocated school.

"We hope that, over time, all the residents will come to see the huge benefits the new school will provide."