THE future of a school site near Lowestoft will come under scrutiny next week.Lothingland Middle School in Lound is set to close next summer as part of the first phase of the controversial move to two-tier education across Waveney.

THE future of a school site near Lowestoft will come under scrutiny next week.

Lothingland Middle School in Lound is set to close next summer as part of the first phase of the controversial move to two-tier education across Waveney.

Suffolk County Council has now declared the site 'surplus for educational use' and plans to carry out a public consultation before deciding on its future. 'Before we take any further action to dispose of the school site, however, we intend to undertake a consultation locally to identify any potential future community use for part or the whole of the site,' a county council spokesman said.

'The results of the consultation will be considered by the county council when it makes its decision and will be made available to Waveney District Council (the planning authority) and the general public.

'Ultimately, the future of the site will be determined by a planning application by the future user(s).'

A consultation evening is being held at Lothingland Middle on Thursday from 4pm to 7.30pm.

'We would like representatives from parish councils, sports and community groups and local residents to attend this event,' the council spokesman said. 'If this is not possible, they can also visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/sor to find out how to submit views and suggestions.'

Any community group that might want to make use of, or acquire, part or the whole of the site must be able to demonstrate: a viable and long term financial plan; that the proposed use meets a recognised but unmet community need; that they have fully considered whether the proposed use could be accommodated at existing schools or other venues in the area.