COUNCILLORS have backed plans for a new £2.5m school facility for children with special educational needs.

Cumbria County Council’s development control and regulation panel unanimously approved the proposals for the school facility for pupils on Monday.

It will cater to children with social, emotional or mental health difficulties and will be situated at the bottom of Edgehill Road in the Harraby area of Carlisle.

Known as Alternative Provision, the schools are a key part of the county council’s work to ensure all children have the best possible education and support.

Currently there is a lack of suitable school places for these children and many have to travel out of county to receive an education, sometimes living away from home.

Richard Cryer, lead officer in Cumbria County Council’s development control team, told the meeting: “This is an application for an alternative education provision building. It is essentially a facility to allow young people who cannot attend mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons, to access specialist provision for their needs. That is the rationale behind this scheme overall.”

Readers expressed their views on the development on the News & Star Facebook page. Louise Osgood commented: “Fantastic idea. Way too long over due.”

Vicky Winstanley said: “This type of education setting is far too long overdue in my opinion. All children irrespective of need have the right to an education and mainstream schools are just not trained to specialise in the complexities that come with a child with social and emotional needs.”

Michelle Campbell said: “It only has room for 40 children - that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”