MEDWAY's newest school, The Pilgrim, still hasn't got a permanent home after councillors threw out a controversial plan to build it on an open space in Borstal, near Rochester.

The Pilgrim was formed this month from the merger of the Borstal Manor and St Matthew's CoE primary schools.

Councillors rejected the plan by their own education director, Rose Collinson, to build the school on the Sir Oswald Short's recreation ground. They had been told that three other sites were considered.

But councillors said the local education authority had failed to prove it was needed, it broke Local Plan guidance, robbed people of a much-needed public space on the banks of the Medway, and would cause major highways issues in the village.

They are prepared to fight an appeal to a planning inspector, but said they expected the LEA to submit plans for another site.