PLANS to merge two primary schools look set to go ahead unopposed after locals raised no objections.

There was unanimous support to amalgamate Radcliffe Infant School with Radcliffe Junior School when it was put to the vote at the area board.

Bury's chief education officer Harold Williams outlined the situation faced by the Coronation Road schools.

He said: "While the intake to the infant school, when compared with other primary schools, remains high, large cohorts transferring to the junior school, combined with smaller intakes has had a significant impact on the infant school's budget."

He added: "While standards in the school remain high, the ongoing budgetary pressures will place increasing pressures on the school."

The infant school can cater for 230 pupils and the junior school has 293 places. But this year there are only 149 infants and 266 juniors. By 2006, the schools will have a forecasted 153 infants and 201 juniors.

As part of a public consultation by Bury Council, townsfolk at lmeeting were given the option to either vote to maintain the status quo and take no further action or close the two schools and open a new primary school on the existing sites.

Education chiefs have spent months looking at investigating the increasing number of unfilled primary school places caused by falling birth rates. Fewer pupils means less cash for all the borough's schools. This year alone £632,000 will be lost.

Radcliffe Area Board chairman, Councillor Barry Briggs, said: "Compared to other parts of the borough, Radcliffe has got off quite lightly. In Affetside for instance the option is to close the village school completely.

"Essentially there will be no major changes in primary school provision in Radcliffe which is good news. I think this reflects the fact that so many young families are choosing to move into the town. If they didn't then Radcliffe might have found itself in the same situation as Affetside and other schools in the borough which face closure."

The schools themselves are not unduly concerned by the prospect of a merger, and there has been no outcry from parents.

When the merger was first suggested, Radcliffe Junior School headteacher Mrs Glen Webb, said: "The schools are next to each other and work together closely. Parents and pupils would notice no difference and we would continue to provide a good education."