A £2 million package to replace dilapidated demountable classrooms in schools was today condemned by an MP as not enough.

Essex County Council wants to spend more than £2 million over the next few years on replacing the controversial structures - but with new temporary buildings and not permanent structures.

Colchester MP Bob Russell said: "This is clearly penny wise and pound foolish because the long-term financial interests are not being served by doing it this way.

"I cannot blame the county council but central Government for not providing enough money."

Mr Russell has been campaigning for temporary classrooms to be replaced at Colchester schools.

He pointed out that half the classrooms are temporary at St Andrew's Infants School in Greenstead.

A survey by the MP last year of temporary classrooms also found that Monkwick Junior School has three in a building 40 years old.

Mr Russell said replacing old temporary classrooms with new temporary ones might be an improvement on the existing situation, but did not address the real issue of an obvious long term need for new buildings at schools.

The county wants to put the money into three areas:

New temporary classrooms to replace those beyond repair

Temporary classrooms at schools where the county doesn't have the cash for permanent buildings - a short term measure

Contingency money for temporary classrooms in case of fire.

County council education officer John Durrant said: "Ideally we would like to provide classrooms in permanent accommodation."

Mr Russell said: "We wouldn't expect people to live and work in those conditions which successive Governments are placing our teachers and pupils in."

The county is waiting to hear the result of its bid to the Government's New Deal for School fund before it can say exactly how much and where the cash will be spent.

The plans will be discussed by Essex County Council's education policy meeting on Monday, with a final decision by the full education committee on March 27.

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