PARENTS in Abbey Meads have lost their battle to send their children to their nearest primary school.

The parents of 15 children, who were refused places at the new £2.6 million Bridlewood School, appealed against the decision.

But their appeals were rejected this week and their children will have to attend schools in Penhill, Moredon and Stratton.

Jessica Kill of Dunvant Road is angry that her four-year-old son will not be attending the same school as other children in her street. Louis will be attending Beechcroft Infant School in Upper Stratton.

She said: "We wanted him to socialise with children in the area but that will be difficult if he goes to a different school.

"We are trying to create a community here and that will be difficult if children got to different schools.

"One of the reasons we bought the house here was the new school.

"I wanted to walk Liam to school and then cycle to work but now I'll have to drive him. That goes against all green travel plans and is forcing parents to use their cars."

She thinks the school should have been expanded to accommodate those who weren't given a place.

In April the Evening Advertiser reported how a number of pupils in Abbey Meads had been refused places at the nearest schools either Bridlewood, Catherine Wayte or Abbey Meads Community School Primary School.

The shortage of school places in the area is due to the increasing population. It has five primary schools but two new ones are due to be completed by 2006.

Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw & Nine Elms), the council's lead member for education said: "There is a blip in the northern area. A large number of houses are being built and some of the children have not been able to get to their first choice school.

"We have no control over how fast houses are built or how many people with young children move there. There will be this pressure over the next two years until the new schools are built.

"While Bridlewood is oversubscribed, there are places available at other schools which are within the legal two-mile limit of a child's home.

"We know it is an unfortunate situation but the decision was made by an independent appeals panel."

Bhavani Vadde