A GOLBORNE councillor fears that village primary school land could be sold off for housing.

Plans are in the pipeline to rebuild Golborne Junior and Infants' School which has a backlog of repairs totalling over £800,000.

Wigan's education director, Ged Rowney, is recommending that governors should be consulted on rebuilding the school, either on the same Talbot Street site or elsewhere in the town.

And it is the suggestion of a move that has sparked fears that the site with large playing fields could be sold off and the school, with admission limits reduced from 60 to 45, built on a smaller plot.

Cllr Peter Franzen said: "I have organised posters calling for the school to be kept on the present site.

"We will fight tooth and nail any plans to sell off the land.

"While recognising the need for major improvements to the school after years of neglect and decline, selling off the family silver is not the answer.

"All over the borough the council is stripping our community assets by selling off playing fields, recreation areas and open spaces on the bogus claim of disposal of surplus land.

"The Golborne Junior and Infants' School playing fields are one of the remaining large green spaces in the town and even attracts a wide variety of birds and ducks.

"If environmental vandalism is allowed to continue we will end up with more vast housing estates and less green spaces left for future generations to enjoy."

Mr Rowney pledged that the local community would be consulted over the plans once the council knew when government cash would be made available.

He said: "The present building is almost totally unsuitable to deliver the modern curriculum. We will be looking to build a school fit for the 21st century."