THIS is a first look at plans to renovate Montgomerie Primary School in Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet.

Parents of pupils at the school, and nearby residents, are being invited to a consultation on the plans, which would see the infant and junior schools merged and relocated into the refurbished and extended junior school building.

The changes are part of a wider plan to move the nearby Glenwood School, for children with special needs, into a purpose- built school on the same site as Montgomerie.

Plans for the new Glenwood School will be the subject of a consultation in the new year.

Both headteachers have welcomed the plans, for which £14million has already been set aside by Essex County Council.

Montgomerie headteacher Anthony Cosans said: “I am excited about everything that has been proposed, as before the Glenwood situation arose I was looking at ways to generate money to be able to do something similar. It was something the children had asked for.

“Montgomerie has been a primary school since 2011, but it is in two buildings and when you ask the children what they would like to see they ask for us all to be in one place.

“For me, it will be really nice to be able to do something that will benefit the school, but also something the children desperately want.

“Local residents will have a real chance to see what we are going to do to this building to get it more fit for purpose.

“It will help the local area in terms of parking and traffic.

One of the biggest issues with Glenwood is the drop-off and collection – that is what most local people say – but the plans do include a way to take the vehicles off the road.

“When it is all complete that shouldn’t be an issue anymore, so hopefully this will not only sort out the school, but also some local issues.”

The consultation for changes to the Montgomerie Primary School will take place on the campus between 3pm and 7pm today.

An exhibition will include plans and drawings of the school and the opportunity to discuss these with Essex County Council representatives, the architect’sWPP and the contractor, TJ Evers