GOLBORNE looks set to get a brand new primary school.

Golborne Primary School has a backlog of repairs totalling more than £800,000 and the school has reached the top of the council's priority list for modernisation spending.

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

He is also recommending a cut in admission limits, from 60 down to 45, to remove surplus places.

The decision is subject to government cash being made available, and Mr Rowney pledged that the local community would be consulted over the plans once the council knew when money would be forthcoming.

Mr Rowney said: "This is excellent news for the school. Despite the best efforts of the staff and governors, the present building is almost totally unsuitableto deliver the modern curriculum. We will be looking to build a school fit for the 21st century."

In a report to the Lifelong Learning Panel (6 May), he said: "There are problems with the roof, settlement of the premises causing uneven floors and tripping hazards, water gets into some of the classrooms, the kitchen facilities are poor and windows need replacing.

"The classrooms are too small, and the combination of all these problems affects the standards to which the school can aspire.

"Each year we review the condition of our school premises according to strict criteria and Golborne is now next on the list for major investment. It would cost at least £1m just to carry out repairs, and our view is that a modern new building will be just what the town's children need."