FORMAL consultation on proposals to expand two schools in Comet country began today (Monday).

The decision to start a consultation on proposals to permanently extend Fairfield Park Lower School, near Stotfold, and Shefford Lower School to each provide 150 extra places was made by Central Bedfordshire Council last month.

This will mean a total of 450 places at the Shefford school and 300 at Fairfield.

The headteachers and governors of both schools are backing the proposals.

The council’s executive member for children’s services, Cllr Mark Versallion, said: “There is a real need to increase the number of places at both these schools, to meet the needs of the growing local population and our responsibility as a council to ensure there are sufficient places for our children.”

The consultation runs until Monday, May 21, and there will be meetings with staff and unions and a public meeting at each school to give parents, carers and other interested parties the opportunity to have their say on the proposals.

The public meetings will take place on Monday, April 30, at Shefford Lower School and Wednesday, May 2, at Fairfield Park Lower School.

Consultation documents are available to view and give feedback on at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations and at Stotfold and Shefford libraries, as well as the town councils’ offices.

A final decision will be made by the council in August. The proposed changes would be fully implemented from September 2013.