RIBBLE Valley councillors are to write to Lancashire County Council demanding to know whether a new high school is going to be built in the area.

Councillor Chris Holtom, also a county representative, said that the County Hall needs to tell Ribble Valley Borough Council whether or not it has plans for a new school.

He told the borough's policy and finance committee: "I asked education chairman Hazel Harding what plans there are for a new school. Her answer was 'There ain't none'."

Parents across the Ribble Valley launched a campaign for a new school earlier this year.

Their campaign was followed by a request from county council officers for help in finding a suitable site for a 600-pupil secondary school. But it was unclear whether it would replace Bowland High School in Grindleton. The borough council has yet to receive confirmation that a school will be built. "There are lots of unanswered questions," said Coun Holtom.

Coun Stephen Sutcliffe, who is also a county councillor, said he has raised similar questions at County Hall. "I am unable to get a clear answer."

Two weeks ago, councillors slammed the county council for underestimating the number of potential pupils in the area. They also told the county council that the Ribble Valley also needs more primary school places. A county council spokesman said: "The local authority has been working to identify sites for a possible new school in the Ribble Valley. The report will be presented to members at the end of this month. We will also be meeting with planning officers from Ribble Valley Borough Council to discuss possible locations this month."