Children at risk unless new Houghton Regis primary school urgently built, council warned

Debate around predicted future pupil numbers in the town has stalled the Bidwell West Primary School project, located on one of two strategic development sites in the town.

The plans would include nursery provision and special educational needs additionally resourced provision (ARP) to support Houghton Regis and its growing communities, according to a report to Central Bedfordshire Council’s executive.

“This is in response to emerging pupil demand, housing growth and wider education system changes.”

Delays to the scheme have led local councillors to warn previously that children face a “terrifying” walk along Bedford Road in the town.

Independent Flitwick councillor Gareth Mackey told the committee: “Our school place planning has consistently indicated the need for extra capacity emerging around 2029/30.

“What we’re now seeing is a more immediate pressure within the system,” he explained. “The latest admissions data shows all reception places for September have been filled.

“While the longer-term picture remains subject to change, the current position shows a tightening of capacity locally and supports a proportionate move forward at this stage.

“The Bidwell West proposal is to deliver a phased scheme to increase capacity to meet need from 2027 onwards. This is a fully funded project through Section 106 (developer) contributions and basic needs finance, with no extra council funding required.

“The recommendations ensure we can respond flexibly to current pressures and future demand as it emerges.”

Conservative Dunstable West councillor Nigel Young warned: “Where have we gone with our policies of ‘let’s walk to school’, if we don’t bring this project forward urgently?

“When the administration changed, for some reason all the numbers altered as well. The suggestion was those previous numbers were wrong and ‘we categorically don’t need the school until 2031’.

“That leaves us in a serious hole now the numbers we were proposing have been proved right. This should come forward by 2027, but we can’t manage that if the suggestion is close to three years to prepare and build.

“Meanwhile, we put children at risk because we want them to travel on unsafe roads in Houghton Regis and on unsafe journeys to Toddington.

“That contradicts all of our good active programmes and with inadequate routes isn’t safe for children going to school.”

Reform UK Houghton Regis East councillor Pat Hamill described it as “a long journey”, saying: “For education in this town, everything seems to be delivered too late.

“Houstone School was, but what a success story. It’s so successful we should be thinking about ‘do we need another secondary school provision in the town?’, given the vast growth, rather than wait until it’s too late.

“Let’s hope we can get those spades in the ground quicker than waiting until 2029 to have this school delivered.”

Liberal Democrat Houghton Regis West councillor Susan Goodchild said: “I look forward to seeing this much-needed provision delivered for our community.”

Executive member for children and families councillor Mackey replied: “This is hard numbers and data. The team has worked consistently to identify that and we’ve chosen to move forward.”

Independent Barton-le-Clay and Silsoe councillor Liz Childs added: “The school will now provide that ARP department, and it’s really important we also focus on that.

“If we’d built the school a couple of years ago, it might not have included this.”

The committee unanimously approved three recommendations, confirming its intention to progress the development, while CBC proceeds to secure a sponsor.