PARENTS in Trawden and Laneshawbridge could be about to win their long battle for places for their children at Park High School, Colne.

County education chiefs have put forward a plan to change the admissions policy to give youngsters from the two villages priority for Park from next year.

The moves follows years of argument as parents protested over the existing policy which allowed those living nearest to school first choice of available places.

That meant youngsters from Trawden and Laneshawbridge missing out, even though Park was their nearest and first choice high school.

However, tomorrow Lancashire County Council's special education and pupil support sub committee will be asked to back change following another review of the position.

First choice of places would continue to go to brothers and sisters of children already attending Park and to children with special reasons for attending the school.

But the third criteria would changed from "nearest, first" to priority being given to Trawden and Laneshawbridge pupils.

Members are being urged to adopt the scheme and press ahead under urgent business procedure to allow early consultation with a view to implementing changes for the year 2000/2001.

After a review of the situation in 1996 a complicated shake-up of the system was rejected by governors. The problem arose again in the 1996/7 school year, though village children gained places at Park on appeal.

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