DISCUSSION of plans for a £1.8 million 16-bed residential special school unit in Kidderminster have been postponed for a second time.

Proposals to build a term-time-only unit on part of the playing field at St John’s CE Primary School will now go before Worcestershire County Council’s Conservative cabinet in May, instead of on April 19.

The Shuttle reported on March 11 that the governing body of St John’s had written to the county council, expressing its concerns over the plans.

Rev Derek Arnold, chairman of governors, said they had no objection to the unit being built, if and when the school had been “relocated elsewhere on the Baxter learning village site”.

That would be as part of plans for a learning village connecting the school with a new Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Baxter College and 220-place special school.

Alison Cartwright, service development manager, school systems said: "The report on the proposed new weekly boarding provision in the north of Worcestershire was withdrawn from the cabinet agenda in March in order for additional information to be prepared and made available to concerned parties.

“In order for this to be completed the report on weekly boarding provision has been put on the agenda for May."

The weekly boarding facility would cater for children with complex needs, usually severe autism or other complex learning difficulties.

Under the plans, work would start in April, 2011, with completion in April, 2012. Children would be able to move in from September, 2012.

The county council’s cabinet was originally due to discuss the proposals on March 15.