Dorchester residents are invited to view plans to relocate Damers First School to Poundbury next week.

The Echo revealed plans for the new school building in March.

As part of Dorset County Council’s programme to provide additional school places, Damers will also increase in size catering for 600 pupils–an increase of 150– from September 2016.

To view the plans, members of the public are invited to two events. The first is to be held at the existing Damers First School hall on Tuesday, June 10, between 3.30 -7pm when representatives from the county council will be on hand to answer questions.

The second will be held next to Little Waitrose in Queen Mother Square, Poundbury, on Saturday, June 14, from 10am-5pm. County council officers will be there to answer questions between 11am and 1pm.

The Dorchester Community Church has also expressed an interest in relocating to the new school site, from it present premises in Acland Road. The combined use of the new church facility and the school hall would be able to provide a large community hall space.

Across Dorset, and the rest of the country, there has been a significant rise in the school age population. In Dorchester, this pressure means that the county council has to look at ways to make sure there are enough school places available to cope with future demand.

Cllr Toni Coombs, Cabinet member for education at Dorset County Council, said: “Local authorities across the country are faced with increasing demand for school places and we have a duty to make sure that all children in Dorset have access to good quality education in accommodation that is fit for purpose.

“Schools are an integral part of the local community and we want Dorchester residents to have a closer look at the plans for Damers First School and give us their feedback before a formal planning application is submitted in the summer.”