The North Eastern Eduaction and Library Board (NEELB)has been urged not to drag their feet over development plans for a new primary school in Ballyclare.

Despite receiving a number of objections to the scheme, planners at Newtownabbey Borough Council this week gave the green light for the creation of a new school on land at Doagh Road, beside the Highgrove housing development.

It was deemed more cost effective to build a new school than face the excessive costs associated with refurbishing the existing Ballyclare Primary School.

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DUP councillor Etta Mann has welcomed the approval decision but stressed that a detailed plan for the project still has to be drawn up: "Ballyclare really needs a new primary school, there is no doubt about that whatsoever. However, while I would welcome this approval I just hope that the Department of Education doesn't drag its feet over this and moves forward with submitting a full, detailed plan as quickly as possible.

"Ballyclare is a growing town and I have no doubt that the Department will deem it necessary to put in place this new facility, and I hope that it will not be too long before we see the opening of this new school."

A spokesperson for the NEELB confirmed that an economic appraisal of the project has been completed and is now being considered by the Department of Education but existing plans for a 20-classroom school costing in excess of £4 million are still subject to review.

A Board spokesperson has confirmed that as yet there is still no final design for the new school and no definite timescale for the project.

(GK/SP)