MAJOR changes have been announced to a £58 million plan to build new schools in the north of Swindon because not enough children are moving into the area.

A proposed new primary school in north west Swindon has been shelved and the money saved will be used to rebuild a crumbing infant and junior school.

And the opening of a brand new secondary school to serve the new homes has been delayed a year until 2006.

The schools are being built under the private finance initiative scheme, which will use private money to finance seven new schools to cater for the town's burgeoning population.

A new council study has revealed that less than two children are expected per home in the area. When the initial plans were drawn up, studies predicted 2.7 children living in each household.

Moredon Infant and Junior Schools are expected to be merged into a primary school, which will be sited near a rebuilt Hreod Parkway School.

The governors of both schools have already held talks with Swindon's local education authority.

Councillor Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), who is the lead member for education said that more than £3 million would need to be spent on Moredon schools in the next three years to keep them running.

The heating system is so poor that pupils have been forced to wear coats and gloves in the classroom during winter.

He said: "There are limited resources to build and repair Swindon schools.

"We don't want to waste money building new schools that will not be full.

"I think this set of proposals offers the best way forward for our young people." Swindon Borough Council is dedicated to turning around its education service to provide excellent schooling across the borough not just in some schools."

Moredon Junior chair of governors Ian Cooke said: "We were disappointed to have found out about this so late but we do want to work with the LEA.

"In many ways we are looking forward to it but we have two main concerns.

"These are being overstaffed, because merging will generally mean a surplus, and that under no circumstances should the school be on the south side of Akers Way (where the new Hreod will be built). We do not want our children forced to cross Akers Way."

Final details are being worked on for three companies to be invited to submit bids for the contract to build the schools and manage the premises once they open.

Labour education spokes-man Coun Jim D'Avila (Moredon) said: "This is a window of opportunity.

"Because of the lower projected number of children there is money for a new school.

"This is an opportunity that we shouldn't throw away. We shouldn't leave things as they are," he said.