A PROPOSAL to put up security fencing around Chard's Holyrood School was recommended for approval last week.

As reported in the News, Chard Town Council's planning and highways committee discussed the application to put up 2.4-metre high fencing around the school, which centres on the upper site in Zembard Lane and lower site in Furnham Road.

Chard Mayor, Cllr Martin Wale, said: "It is a large site with plenty of room, it's not going to inconvenience anyone and the fences are sensible for anyone entering a school site."

Members recommended the proposal, which is aimed to stop late night vandalism and anti social behaviour.

One of the most recent incidents saw a wheelie bin set on fire which resulted in a maintenance workshop and store being destroyed causing more than £50,000 of damage.

Planning officer at Somerset County Council, Jonathon Fellingham, on behalf of the authority's children and young people department which has come up with the scheme, said: "The school buildings and land have been suffering numerous incidents of major vandalism and abuse over many years together with incidents of assault and threatening behaviour from youths who continuously breach the boundary fences and climb onto roofs of the buildings."

"This causes a disturbance to neighbours late at night and sometimes during the day at holidays and weekends."

Chair of the meeting, David Keitch, said: "It's a sad thing to have to put up security fencing around a school.

"But it is a sad point of our age."