The decision to close a Chatham school last year was right - even though there is now a need for a new school to be built.

Cllr Les Wicks told Medway Council's cabinet on Tuesday it was difficult to be accurate on pupil numbers, but Chatham would have 17 per cent too few places within three years.

"Ridge Meadow was closed because it had a large number of surplus places," he said.

Proposals to close three schools and a host of mergers two years ago sparked a huge campaign. In the end Ridge Meadow was the only one to close.

Cllr Wicks pointed out that there were sufficient places available in adjacent schools.

He was unable to say where the new school would be built, but said across Medway there were still too many empty places.

St James CoE at Cliffe and nearby Allhallows both had over 43 per cent of classrooms empty. Ten primary schools had more than a quarter of their desks unused.

The council will build two new primaries at Lodge Hill, and a third at Rochester Riverside to meet the needs of new developing communities.

For the full report and reaction see Friday's Medway Messenger.