KENNET district councillors have come out in favour of a scheme to move St Peter's Primary School to a new site on the other side of Devizes.

Responding to a consultation paper from Wiltshire education authority, councillors backed the second of three options for a school between Quakers Walk and London Road.

New homes are expected to add an estimated 413 children to the school rolls. The town's newest school, Nursteed Community Primary, is expected to reach its capacity by 2007 and most other schools will not be able to take on the additional pupils.

The only school that is significantly below capacity is St Peter's because of the declining number of children in the western part of the town.

The consultation paper proposes three options: to open a new school at Quakers Walk offering 210 places, to move and enlarge St Peter's on the Quakers Walk site, or not to build a new school.

Coun Peter Evans said: "It is a very good idea. The balance of the population in the town is shifting to the south east and the repairs on the old building at St Peter's must be astronomical."

Coun Jeff Ody was concerned about the future of the present St Peter's site.

Council officer Ed White said that in order to cover the cost of a move to a new building, the Bath Road site would have to be sold off for housing.

Committee chairman Coun Tony Molland recommended option B, to move St Peter's to the proposed school site at Quakers Walk and this was carried unanimously.

Headteacher Sandy Fletcher was expecting parents to express concerns over the possible move at a meeting due to take place yesterday evening.

She said: "I have had a few responses from parents and once they understood the reasons for the move they were sympathetic. A few do have concerns."

The move to Quakers Walk will affect families living away from the town centre, towards Mayenne Place, Avon Road and the south side of town.

Mrs Fletcher said that the move will affect 19 families from that area with 21 children at the school. Children come to the school from all parts of town and the move could bring the school closer to some.