Plans setting out the move of an East Devon primary school away from a flood zone will next week be revealed at a public drop-in.
A hard-fought campaign for a new building for a Devon primary school looks set to have taken a major step forward, writes local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard.
Campaigners have been pushing for a new site for Tipton St John Primary School for years – largely due to it being flooded multiple times – and now a planning application is about to be submitted.
Tipton St John Primary School after it was flooded in 2016.
Devon County Council is preparing an outline planning application for a new school, which it intends to submit in September.
Residents will have a chance to have their say on the mooted proposals at a community drop-in session at Tipton Village Hall on Thursday, July 23 between 2.30pm and 6.30pm.
There have been previous false dawns in the efforts to get a new school building, with one attempt that suggested moving it out of the village altogether.
Flooding next to Tipton St John Primary School. Image: Devon County Council
Local member, Councillor Jess Bailey (Independent, Otter Valley), said she had done “everything I can” to try to keep the school in the village.
“I fully accept that it cannot remain on its current site because of the severe flooding issue which causes huge disruption to pupils and staff,” Cllr Bailey said.
“However, I firmly believe that the school should remain at Tipton St John. That view was shared by hundreds of local people during the 2024 consultation, which was carried out on the [proposed]relocation of the school to Ottery.
“Almost 1,000 people signed a petition opposing the move to Ottery.”
Pupils, parents and staff at the clean-up after Tipton Primary School was flooded in 2016. Photo: with permission.
Cllr Bailey said she had invited the leader of the council, Cllr Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrat, Kingsbridge), to the school last year to meet with her and the school leadership team in Tipton St John.
“Following that meeting, the council agreed to identify a suitable site within the village and to undertake the work required by the Department for Education,” she added.
A Devon County Council spokesperson said the relocation of the school was required due to the “severe and ongoing flood risk at its current site”.
“Devon County Council has listened to the community following feedback on earlier proposals to relocate to Ottery St Mary and has spent the past year assessing land west of Tipton Vale as a potential new location for the school within the village,” the spokesperson said.
“Detailed technical work is ongoing and we expect to submit an outline planning application during the autumn term”
Flood-hit Tipton Primary School in 2016 after water swept through the playground into buildings. Photo: with permission.
The council added that the replacement school is due to be funded and delivered by the Department for Education as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
“The council is required to provide a suitable parcel of land and may be required to contribute financially towards the project,” the spokesperson added.
Richard Foord MP (Liberal Democrat, Honiton & Sidmouth), said it was “fantastic” that a planning application would be put forward to move the school to a safe place.
“For years, people in Tipton St John have campaigned to relocate the school on a site in the village outside the flood zone – a move that has been backed by Cllr Jess Bailey, who has worked hard behind the scenes to get to this stage,” he said.
“A supportive new Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall has meant that the community can finally make progress.
“As a supporter of the proposal to rebuild the school within the village, I am delighted with these developments, and I will continue to engage with the Department for Education to support this project until we see the build underway at Tipton.”
