THE last in a series of meetings to discuss plans to rebuild three York schools using private funding will take place tonight.

New school buildings and community facilities are planned at St Oswald's Primary School at Fulford, Hob Moor School at Acomb and St Barnabas' School in the Leeman Road area, using private funding.

The PFI scheme works like a mortgage, with City of York Council borrowing money from private firms to pay for the building of the schools. The money is then repaid over a set period of time.

At Hob Moor School the existing building will be replaced and, alongside school facilities, there will be an early years centre for children up to five-years-old, a creche, a family centre and a primary special education needs school. At St Barnabas' a new school will be built on a fresh site behind St Barnabas' Church. It will include a nursery and facilities that can be used by the public.

At St Oswald's, in Fulford, the building will be replaced on the same site with a new school which will include a nursery, library and a parish meeting room.

But the St Oswald's plan has caused controversy and resulted in the resignation of three parish councillors over the selling-off of Fulford Social Hall to fund part of the initiative.

Despite the controversy, Damon Copperthwaite, the council's schools project manager, said both of the meetings held so far had gone well.

He said: "Everyone was very enthusiastic and there was a good dialogue between the public and council officers. Some concerns were raised and they will be considered, along with other comments from public consultation, when we are putting together the improvement brief."

The final meeting will take place at St Barnabas' Church tonight at 7.30pm. Mr Copperthwaite encouraged people to attend the meeting, but stressed the public would still be able get information through ward committee meetings and other planned meetings. He said: "My message to residents is that this really is a great

opportunity to find out what is going on and to have your say."

Updated: 11:14 Tuesday, November 19, 2002