Residents of Tipton St John are being asked for their views on the proposed relocation of the village primary school to Ottery St Mary.

A consultation was launched on the school’s website, and on Devon County Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ website, on Wednesday, May 1.

It sets out the plan to rebuild the school at Thorne Farm in Ottery St Mary, and provides links to relevant documents. These include a report commissioned by the Department for Education on four possible sites for the new school, two of which are in Tipton St John: Carters Field and land south of Otter Close. The other two were Thorne Farm and the King’s School playing fields. The report considered the suitability, constraints and planning considerations of all four sites before recommending Thorne Farm as the best option.

The initial consultation will run until June 19. On June 24 the governors of the Otter Valley Federation, which runs Tipton Primary, will meet to decide whether to go ahead with the proposed relocation. If they do proceed, there will have to be a formal four-week consultation, ending on July 25, and the ultimate decision will be made by the Cabinet of Devon County Council in September.

As part of the initial consultation a drop-in session, open to all those interested in the proposal, will be held on Wednesday, May 22 in Tipton St John village hall from 4pm until 7pm. Governors from the Otter Valley Federation will be available to answer questions as well as officers from Devon County Council and representatives from the Diocese of Exeter.

While there has been a campaign for the rebuilding of Tipton St John Primary for many years, a large number of people feel strongly that it should be in the village. A petition has been launched on Change.org arguing that the primary school is the heart of the Tipton St John community, and pointing out that even if it relocates, measures will still be needed to tackle the flood risk in the village.

But there is also a view that Tipton Primary needs a new school building as soon as possible, and the relocation to Thorne Farm is the quickest way to achieve this.

Responses to the consultation can be sent to Tipton St John Primary School via email admin@tipton-stjohn.devon.sch.uk or by post. All responses will be shared with Devon County Council.