Villagers have given a thumbs up to proposals that could see a modern primary school built on community playing fields in Palgrave. A public consultation was launched two months ago to test local opinion of allowing the construction of a replacement school on community centre land in the village.

Villagers have given a thumbs up to proposals that could see a modern primary school built on community playing fields in Palgrave.

A public consultation was launched two months ago to test local opinion of allowing the construction of a replacement school on community centre land in the village.

Officials from the Palgrave and District Community Council said they were 'very happy' with the response from residents with more than 80pc of respondents supporting the proposals.

The results will be forwarded to the headteacher and governors at Palgrave Primary School who are looking to offer more modern facilities for their 40 pupils.

Chris Shillinglaw, chairman of the Palgrave and District Community Council, said about a sixth of the village's population responded to the poll, with 94 in favour of the proposal and 18 against.

He added that residents wanted to keep their primary school in Palgrave, but the current educational facilities were still in the 19th century.

'It is sweet and charming, but it is a little village primary school, and should be self-sustaining, have a functioning canteen, and suitable playground facilities.'

'The results say that we want to keep the school and we want to keep it in Palgrave and if the education committee cannot find land, we are prepared to allow the school to be built on part of the PDCC land. If the school was closed down it would be a big loss for the village,' he said.

Mr Shillinglaw added that there was some 'very strong' feeling in the village that the community land off Rose Lane should not be used for the construction of school buildings. However, he said it would result in the loss of a quarter of the community centre's land, if the plans went ahead.

Angela Hall, headteacher of Palgrave Primary School, added: 'The school is delighted with the outcome of the community council's canvas of Palgrave village. Although there are no county council plans to build a new school in the village it is wonderful to know land would be available if the situation was to change.'

Proposals to create a wind turbine at the community centre at Palgrave to help reduce its fuel bills were scrapped earlier this year after missing out on a �60,000 grant from the East of England Development Agency.