A LEADING autism charity has welcomed plans for a new specialist school in Bournemouth but said it was “disappointed” not to be consulted on the proposals.

A total of £5.8m is to be spent building a new specialist school on part of the Heathlands Primary School site at West Howe and refurbishing the facilities at Heathlands.

The new school, which will be able to cater for up to 60 pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), will be run by Linwood School – a successful specialist school which has its main campus in Winton.

Bob Lowndes, chief executive of the Wessex Autistic Society, said they were pleased the council was intending to invest in extending education for children and young adults with autism but disappointed not to have been involved from the start.

“While disappointed at the council’s decision not to consult with the society as to how we might jointly have responded to this increase in demand and ensured best use of our mutual resources, we look forward to working positively in the future to find the most effective and efficient way of meeting the needs of this vulnerable group of children,” he said.

He added he had been assured the new school would not negatively impact on the partnership the council enjoys with the Wessex Autistic Society in its use of Portfield School. Currently 10 Bournemouth children attend the Christchurch school.

Ian Finlay, programme leader at Bournemouth council, said: “We recognise the Wessex Autistic Society as a provider of good services among many other providers we work with and we value our relationship with them.”