THE fight to save Windmill Hill Primary School is only just beginning.

Parents are campaigning to save the school in Uxbridge Road, Freshbrook, after Swindon Council voted unanimously to push ahead with the closure, as reported in the Advertiser yesterday.

They say the final nail in the coffin has not been hammered in yet and there is still time to fight the proposals.

Under council plans Windmill Hill would be closed, along with Freshbrook Primary School, possibly by 2008, and a new school built on the Freshbrook site.

The plans are all part of a reorganisation of schools in West Swindon.

But the final decision to close the school is not in the hands of the council the Schools Organisation Committee will have the final decision.

This means there is still time for the public to oppose plans.

And action group West Swindon Parents For Choice will be using this time to help save Windmill Hill.

Mum-of-two Pam Durston, 35, of Freshbrook, is one of many parents campaigning against the closure.

Her two children, Fraser, seven, and five-year-old Bethany, both attend the school.

"It seems the cabinet will just vote in favour of anything without really thinking about the affect it will have," she said.

"But I'm still optimistic that when it gets to the SOC they will not vote it in if we keep on fighting to save it."

Christine Kinder, 45, of Grange Park, has a five-year-old daughter, Sarah, at the school.

"I cannot understand the logic behind the council's decision," she said. "There are failing schools in the town but the council want to close our school, which has consistently been in the top five performing schools in the town."

Christine says if the school does close she would consider moving out of the area to find another small school like Windmill Hill.

Marie Kirkham, 33, of Grange Park, who has two children Hannah five, and two-year-old Freya who would have gone to the school said: "This is a great school and closing it will not help the pupils."

Clair Puschnik's five-year-old Bradley is at the school.

"We put our house up for sale two weeks ago and have a buyer," said the 27-year-old.

"I'm trying to stay optimistic but we were going to stay in the area but now if the school does close we are thinking of moving out of the area because Bradley is very sensitive and I don't think he would cope in a bigger school."

She added: "The school is in a quiet cul-de-sac, away from the main road and the playground is totally out of view from the road. All of these things are very important."

The school has 215 children aged from five to 11 on roll, compared to 251 at Freshbrook School.

But Freshbrook Primary School headteacher Jan Milsom is excited about having a new school.

"I am delighted that there will be a brand new school for children to share in Freshbrook," she said.

"The children from the two schools will be able to come together and share the great new facilities."

If the axe does fall on Windmill Hill, Toothill Primary will be rebuilt.

The council says there will be 680 surplus school places across West Swindon schools by 2009 unless action is taken now. It is also planning to close Salt Way Primary and extend Shaw Ridge Primary.