A controversial free school received planning consent on the very day it opened – despite health and safety concerns.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) gave approval yesterday (Tuesday, September 1) for University Cathedral Free School to convert Murlain House business centre, Union Street, back to a school after the application was processed in less than eight weeks.

Parents will be relieved after permission came in the nick of time for the start of the autumn term but may be concerned to learn that just four days earlier CWaC education chief Mark Parkinson told The Chronicle he had 'raised concerns' about pupil safety on arrival and departure as well as at play time.

This was because plans indicated children would not be physically segregated from on site traffic, including construction vehicles, when crossing the car park or using their play area.

Murlain House in Chester

Mr Parkinson said in a statement that the primary school had subsequently provided details of its proposed procedures and that he had requested these be incorporated into a detailed risk assessment.

Health and safety issues

He added: “We have also made it clear that we are duty bound to raise any health and safety issues with the Health and Safety Executive if we are not satisfied with the proposed or actual measures, or if we do not have clarity on the mitigation arrangements in place to ensure the safe well-being of the school children.”

These fresh safety concerns came after it emerged there were fears about the condition of a wall within what will form the school playground but CWaC’s building control team say it is 'not immediately dangerous'.

Children will arrive on site tomorrow (Thursday, September 3) after staff have prepared the school which will serve an initial 120 pupils - 60 within the Gatehouse building by the entrance and 60 in a classroom and an admin room in the west wing of the grade II-listed Murlain House, originally an Edwardian school which closed in the late 1970s.

A view inside Murlain House

A second phase scheme will follow later, within the remainder of Murlain House, when a further planning application will be expected along with a listed building application.

The school, previously based in Gateway House, Northgate Street, since 2013, will eventually accommodate 210 pupils. It was originally due to relocate to permanent premises in Abbey Square but the plan fell through for unknown reasons.

Residents' concerns

The sports curriculum is expected to be delivered off site using University of Chester facilities although no details were provided in the planning application.

Some immediate residents raised concerns about road safety, parking and congestion given the school’s location on the city’s inner ring road.

Supporters argue free schools, which are state-funded but independent of local authority control, deliver excellent educational standards and an alternative choice for parents. But critics claim they are elitist establishments which serve the middle classes only and undermine existing schools by taking their pupils and funding.

The Chronicle asked the University of Chester Academies Trust to provide details of the actions the school would be taking to ensure the safety of pupils.

A spokesperson for UCAT responded: “UCAT has provided a detailed risk assessment to Cheshire West and Chester’s Head of Education which outlines the actions that have been taken to assess the health and safety of pupils at arrival/departure and during playtimes and mitigate against any concerns.

“Having been granted the first phase of planning permission for Murlain House, the University Cathedral Free School will be open to pupils and staff, as scheduled, for the start of the academic year on Thursday, September 3.”