A LONG-AWAITED new school in Crossways could open in September 2005.

The school is being proposed for the village as part of a plan to build 140 homes at Woodsford Fields.

At their meeting tomorrow, members of Dorset County Council's Cabinet are being asked to back plans for the new school, which would see the relocation of Owermoigne First School to the site.

The move follows extensive public consultation on the proposed relocation over the last few months.

Cabinet members will be told that the proposal has received total support from those who have been consulted and now they are being asked to support a plan to issue a public notice saying that Owermoigne will relocate to Crossways from September 2005.

A report to the Cabinet by David Goddard, Dorset's director of education, said: "All of the responses have been supportive of the need to provide much improved accommodation for Owermoigne First School and none objected to the relocation of the school to Crossways."

He said that concerns have been raised by governors at Broadmayne First School who fear that the relocation of the Owermoigne school could lead to a reduction in its own numbers.

Governors fear that up to 27 per cent of the school's budget would be lost if the 30 pupils from Crossways who currently attend Broadmayne relocate to the new school.

They suggest that to stop the school roll falling too low Broadmayne becomes a feeder school for the middle schools in Dorchester, which they hope would encourage some parents from Dorchester to use Broadmayne First School for their children. Children from Broadmayne currently go to Puddletown Middle School.

Members of cabinet are being asked to explore the possibility of re-establishing links between Broadmayne and a Dorchester middle school to allay fears.

Building on the 140-home development at Woodsford Fields could start in the new year after West Dorset Planners approved the final details of the scheme last month.