A POPULAR community centre will be bulldozed to make way for a new school in the borough.

The Grove Academy, which launched for the first time in September, is in a temporary location in Wellington Street, Slough but will have a new home at the current site of Chalvey Community Centre and Chalvey Early Years Centre, between The Green and Ladbrooke Road.

Although the site for the new academy has been approved, set for 2020/2021, the school is still in the early stages and is yet to acquire planning permission.

A Slough Borough Council spokeswoman said that the community and early years centres would be rebuilt on the new school site - but their temporary home, during building work, is yet to be determined.

The principle of Grove Academy, Andrea Fricker, 53, of Langley, said: “When we’re full, we will have a capacity of 1,940 pupils, with a 200 capacity sixth form.”

Ms Fricker said the school would be an ‘all-through’ school, a combined primary and secondary academy that can take students from reception to the end of sixth form.

She said: “We want to work closely with the community groups next to us. We’re hoping to have planning permission for early next year.

“We want to make an exciting building within Chalvey, that will help with the regeneration of the area. The ‘all-through’ school will be different, as primary school students will have access to secondary school facilities.”

However, some Chalvey residents have expressed concern. Margaret Inness, chairwoman of the Chalvey Community Forum, said: “The school is in the wrong place - it will destroy Chalvey. Traffic is already horrendous, with the school there it will be complete gridlock.

“We also understand that the Chalvey Rec will be used as a playing field for the school - that’s not on, it should be a public space for Chalvey residents.”

Ms Fricker said: “We’re not aware of any complaints, but traffic is of extreme importance. We’ll be working with the borough to limit the impact, such as encouraging walking, new bus routes.”

The council spokeswoman added that if Chalvey Rec was used, it would still be open for public use too.