PARENTS are being given the opportunity to comment on plans to expand five primary schools in Colchester.

Essex County Council wants to create another 1,085 places at a rate of 155 each year for seven years.

A misleading survey is now available online for parents, residents and members of the public.

A report from County Hall confirmed its proposal to expand Home Farm Primary School from 210 places to 420 by adding a new class for each school year, from reception to year six.

If agreed a new teaching block would be needed as well as a bigger playground, staff room and more parking.

At Stanway Fiveways Primary School, where the proposal is to go from 315 to 630 places, a new two storey teaching block would be needed.

The school would also require a studio place, another hall, as well as a bigger staff room and more parking.

The proposal for Stanway Primary School is to expand from 280 to 420 places with another two storey teaching block, studio space and group rooms among other facilities which would need to be added.

St Michael's Primary School could go from 210 to 420 places with a new teaching block, extended reception block, hall, practical learning space and more staff facilities.

And Unity Academy may also get new teaching facilities if plans for an extra 210 places go ahead.

Ray Gooding, cabinet member for education, said: "Up to five additional forms of entry will be required in the next two years.

"We have been working with schools in the area to address this need and while meeting the need for additional places has been made harder by the restraints on public expenditure, providing sufficient school places remains a high priority."

The schools were chosen based on where new housing developments are likely and where there is some space to increase capacity.

A number of other expansions were rejected.

The report states: "The possibility of building expansion work has been explored for a number of other schools and some do not have the site capacity to expand."

The survey is out now at: http://surveys.essexinsight.org.uk/PrimaryPlacesinColchester2018#

However it only includes the figures for the first year and not all the subsequent years when asking for feedback.

For example it asks if you "support the proposal to expand Stanway Fiveways Academy by 45 places, increasing the school's capacity to 630 places from September 2018".

The proposal is actually to increase the size by 315 pupils with 45 places a year from 2018.

The total cost, if the proposals are agreed, will top £30million.

Information afternoons will be held at the schools during January between 4pm and 6pm.

On January 10 the public drop in session will be at Home Farm.

On January 11 it will be at Unity Academy and at Stanway Primary School on Thursday, January 12.

They will be held at St Michael's Primary School in January 17 and Stanway Fiveways Primary School in Friday, January 19.

Final decisions are expected by April.

If the proposals are not agreed, or alternatives found, Colchester will not have enough spaces for children.