Plans for a 'much-needed' primary school on the outskirts of Crewe have been unanimously approved, but councillors sought assurance both proposed toucan crossings would be installed before it opened.

Outline permission for the new school on land to the north-western corner of David Whitby Way was granted a decade ago as part of a wider permission for a residential development at Basford East.

On 9 September, Cheshire East's southern planning committee backed the reserved matters application for the school, which will open as a 210-pupil one-form entry with the likelihood of expanding at a future date to two forms of entry catering for 420 pupils.

The reserved matters application related to appearance, landscaping, layout, access and scale of the proposed school.

But most of the debate at the meeting was around highway safety, in particular the installation of two toucan crossings on David Whitby Way being funded by S106 contributions from developers, and off-street parking.

Ward councillor Alison Heler (Conservative), said in a written statement: "The provision of these crossings is critical to ensure pedestrian safety, particularly young children.

"I feel strongly that these must be in place prior to the opening of the school, and this must be a condition of the planning approval."

Weston and Crewe Green Parish Council vice chair, John Cornell, said the 'much-needed facility' was welcomed.

But he told the committee: "Given this is likely eventually to be a two-form entry school, I think we would also like to see an informative going into this stating that should parking problems be experienced in the future, the provision of further off-street-parking will be investigated."

He also said the two toucan crossings should be provided as soon as possible.

Highways officer Andrew Goligher said he believed the trigger for the southern crossing was when 200 homes had been occupied on the site of the developer funding it.

"For the other one, we already have S106 money and we have designed the crossing already so it's ready to go," he said.

Cllr Janet Clowes, (Wybunbury, Conservative), said: "Because of the position of the school to the south of the roundabout, it would make sense, if you're going to prioritise crossings, it's got to be the south one first, not the north one."

She said the school was much needed because of the speed the houses were being built.

"So, I would like to propose approval, subject to the inclusion of the informative for Cheshire East at a later date to investigate further off-street parking at entry two stage, because I think that's when the real issues will happen," she said.

Cllr Clowes asked if it could be conditioned that the southern crossing be installed first but was told it outside of the council's control as it was down to developer funding it and the previous agreement about the 200 home trigger.

Planning officer Daniel Evans said he did not know how close the occupancy rate was to the trigger-point.

"I can write separately after the meeting to the enforcement and compliance team and just see where they're up to in terms of occupancy," he said.

Nantwich councillor Anna Burton (Labour), seconded the move to approve.

"It's really good to see this infrastructure being built, especially with all the housing development, so I think this is really to be welcomed," she said.

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