Council votes to close three special schools in Wiltshire

Wiltshire Council has decided to close three special schools, replacing them with one 'centre of excellence'.

St Nicholas in Chippenham, Larkrise in Trowbridge and Rowdeford near Devizes will all close, with the new school being opened on the Rowdeford site by 2021.

Many parents had fought against the closures saying it would have a massive impact on their children, increasing travel times and posing possible health risks.

All three schools were previously earmarked for closure because they were at full capacity.

The Council proposed a new 'super-school' to be built near Devizes, something which has now been approved.

Parents from Larkrise and St Nicholas launched a legal challenge against the plans earlier this year.

The authority had said it would consider other options on how to invest £20m into special school education, after campaigners argued the closures would have a huge impact on their children.

However at a meeting on Wednesday 22 May the council voted unanimously to move ahead with its plans to close all three schools in favour of a new, larger site at the Rowdeford location.