STROUD district council has formally showed its opposition to plans for a Steiner free school in Stroud.

At a meeting of the full council on Thursday members voted in favour of a motion opposing the plans which included writing to the Secretary of State for Education and MP Neil Carmichael.

A debate on the motion proposed by Cllr David Drew (Lab, Farmhill and Paganhill) was planned to take place during the meeting, however it was cancelled out of respect for Cllr Paul Carter, who had died earlier that morning.

"Given the sombre nature of this evening I have received a request that we don't go into a full debate this evening," said Cllr Drew at the meeting.

"I will instead just read out the motion and then everyone can have their vote."

A proposal for Steiner Academy Five Valleys, a free school which was estimated to accommodate more that 600 pupils, was rejected by the Department of Education earlier this year.

However, last month the committee behind the school had the opportunity to re-submit their plans to the Secretary of State.

The motion outlined the reasons for opposition, claiming that there is “no justification in terms of pupil numbers” and “a free school would be damaging to existing schools in the district”.

It is also claimed that the “process of application is not transparent and has not involved local consultation”.