THE community has been promised a say in shaping the proposed ‘free school’ on the grounds of Chester Cathedral.

Volunteers will be invited to sit on groups formed to tackle transport issues and help structure the curriculum and admissions policy.

About 30 people, comprising members of Chester Community Forum, attended a consultation meeting at the proposed school site in Abbey Square on Monday evening.

The University Cathedral School, which would specialise in music and singing, is a joint venture between the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT) and Chester Cathedral.

UCAT chief executive officer Dr Colin Hankinson told the meeting: “We’re not saying we know best and this is what you’re having. We want a genuine contribution to fine tune (the plans).

“We’re open to develop our ideas as long as it’s to the benefit of the children and the community.”

During the meeting, city centre resident Faye Mustill raised concerns about an influx of cars caused by parents bringing their children to the school.

She said: “The traffic is going to be horrendous.”

Dr Hankinson responded: “There’s a combination of park and ride, phasing the day and the use of car parks that will resolve that. This issue will be looked at in great depth.”

He invited Faye to become a part of the group that will develop the transport plan, which she accepted.

If the school is given the go-ahead it will open to 60 pupils in September next year. It would then increase by 30 children a year until 2018 when it will house a total of 210.

When quizzed about how admission would work if the school was oversubscribed, Dr Hankinson responded: “A policy will be put together to avoid any selection. We’ll endeavour to make it as fair and open to all as possible.

“The aim is to create a school for Chester and district with preference to local children in the first instance.”

Garden Quarter resident and music teacher Janet Pinder-Emery asked if the community could get involved in helping to set the curriculum.

“My interest is in the development of the child,” she said.

Dr Hankinson said: “We will invite people to help with structuring the curriculum as long as they are constructive and not destructive.”

As the meeting closed, one member of the public described a September 2013 opening as ‘unrealistic’ given the work required inside the building.

The historic building, which was built by Chester Cathedral in 1754, has been unoccupied since about 2000. It had been used as a retreat for nuns for more than 50 years.