HUNDREDS of worried parents and school staff turned out for the first public meeting on merger proposals.

Staff and parents from Swanscombe Infant and Nursery School and Sweyne Junior School, both in Keary Road, Swanscombe, went to the public consultation on May 25 in the junior school hall to discuss a proposed amalgamation.

The proposals by Kent County Council (KCC) are part of a number of measures, including mergers and closures, to minimise empty school places across Gravesham, Dartford and Swanley, brought about by a falling birth rate.

KCC's area education officer for Dartford and Gravesham Simon Webb answered questions about the plans.

Mr Webb said the amalgamation would start next September with the new facility moving to the junior school site.

Children and staff would be moved into mobile classrooms for at least nine months while the site is redeveloped.

One parent said: "People will not want to send their children to a building site so numbers will go down even further.

"Mobile classrooms are not acceptable."

When questioned on whether homes will be built on the existing infant and nursery school site, Mr Webb said: "We have not entered into any discussions about it yet."

Mr Webb said the plans would not mean redundancies but admitted the two headteachers and two deputy headteachers will not have guaranteed places at the new school.

Peter Stone, parent governor of Swanscombe Infant and Nursery School, said: "Mr Webb skirted around the questions put forward at the meeting. He just told us what we wanted to hear."

Leader of Dartford Council Councillor Jeremy Kite says he is against the merger.

He said: "The KCC has not made its case properly to make people aware of what is happening."

Councillor Kite is also against KCC proposals to close Darenth Community Primary School, Green Street Green Road, Dartford, and will give his support to parents at a public consultation meeting on June 5 at 7pm at the school.