A school boasting of its £3 million development plans has come under fire for fencing in a school playing field.

The number of computers at a Colchester school is set to nearly double as a result of improvement plans.

Philip Morant Technology College unveiled a blueprint for a £3 million five-year rolling project aimed at improving facilities and security at the Rembrandt Avenue site.

The plans include refurbished classrooms, a new dinner hall, a controversial fenced area of open field for sports, new bike sheds, renovated sports facilities and beefed-up security.

Residents in the area fear the school's plans for changing its sports facilities might lead to a loss of land for public use.

When the project is completed, the number of computers at the school will increase from about 400 to about 700.

A few hundred parents and about 1,400 children at the school have been given a chance to have their say about the proposals and the vast majority of them support the governing body's plans.

So far, 93 per cent support the plans for improving classrooms, 81 per cent support giving the sixth form a better college environment and 90 per cent support changes to catering and dining.

In total, 92 per cent back the proposals for improved security and 90 per cent approve of the overall plan for changes to the site.

A spokesman for the school said: "We had very good feedback from the surveys, which were sent out to all parents and students as well as members of the community. There was a very high level of agreement on the issues raised."

A meeting with parents and members of the community was held earlier this month.

Michael Blackwell, chairman of the Irvine Road Area Residents' Association, said he wasn't concerned about the fence currently being put up around the field.

But residents were, he said, very concerned about the school's plan to try and get some extra land from Essex County Council to reshape the school's playing field.

People wanting to air their views about the scheme have until the end of April. Any comments should be sent to the college in Rembrandt Way, Colchester, CO3 4QS or by e-mail to theschool@philipmorant.es sex.sch.uk

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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