A SCHEME which will form the next step on the road to regeneration for four York schools has been given the backing of top councillors.

The city's education leader said the package would mean a better deal now for the children involved.

Members of City of York Council's executive approved a plan which will see a building project team set up to oversee the development of new buildings at the schools.

It is the latest step forward in the £15 million regeneration plan, which has been approved by the Government, to rebuild Hob Moor Junior and Infant Schools, Acomb, St Barnabas's CE Primary, Leeman Road, and St Oswald's CE Primary, Fulford. The project team will look at including more community facilities at the three sites and draw up detailed plans.

During the meeting of the executive, council leader Rod Hills said that without the private finance initiative (PFI) package that the Government approved, there would not have been enough resources for the scheme to go ahead.

Coun Janet Looker, executive member for education, said she wanted to assure people that the council had looked at every other option and this was "the only way".

She added that the four schools had "suffered for far too long" and said that regeneration had to happen now.

"They don't want to wait ten to 20 years to do this," Coun Looker said. "The children who are in the system now deserve a better deal and I think this will give it to them."

Councillors also approved a £250,000 budget for setting up and funding the building project team and to cover costs including drawing up detailed plans and legal agreements.

Updated: 12:54 Saturday, June 02, 2001