People power could help win the battle to get a new primary school built in Heybridge.

Residents are being urged to write letters to Essex County Council to ask for a second school to be built in the west of the village close to new housing developments.

Parish council chairman, Beryl Claydon, said she thinks if enough people say they want one then education bosses might agree to it.

Mrs Claydon said: "The education authority will find they have landed themselves in a big, big muddle if they do nothing.

"We want to see a commitment for a new school in the replacement local plan so are telling people to write letters and have a huge campaign for one."

People have been trying to get a second school built in Heybridge to take the pressure off the existing one in Rowen Drive as they fear demand for places will increase in the next few years.

But Neil Keylock, the county council's manager for planning and admissions, said a new school is unlikely as there is currently some spare capacity at the existing one.

Meanwhile, Maldon councillors have also highlighted the problem of overcrowding in Heybridge and the effect it could have on primary schools in the town.

But Mr Keylock said this is already the case and account has been taken of demand from Heybridge when looking at Maldon's schools.

"We do look at both Maldon and Heybridge jointly because of their close geographical proximity," he said

Published Friday, March 15, 2002