MULTI-MILLION pound plans to rebuild a secondary school could include preserving some of its prized art deco features which date back seven decades.

The move comes after residents raised concerns about losing part of the city's heritage once Thistley Hough High's current building in Penkhull is replaced with a new one.

Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering keeping a 1930s block and rebuilding the rest of the school.

Another option is to transfer a few original features, including art deco windows with etched images, and a wrought iron balustrade, to the new school to retain a piece of Thistley Hough's history.

The ideas emerged at a consultation meeting at North Staffordshire Medical Institute, in Hartshill, yesterday. It was called to gauge public opinion before an outline planning application is submitted in August.

Thistley Hough, which also has blocks from the 1970s, is earmarked for major investment as part of the city's £250 million Building Schools for the Future programme. Construction work could start in 2012 and pupils and staff would move into their new classrooms by 2013. But they won't have to travel far because the new school is due to be built just behind the existing one.

Margaret Birks, from Trent Valley Road, Penkhull, pictured below, believes it is vital to keep old architectural features.

She said: "Part of Penkhull has just become a conservation area. The school is art deco and has these lovely windows and a curved wall. It's important to marry the old with the new."

Pensioner Elaine Holland, from Penkhull, was a pupil at Thistley Hough in the war years, when it was a grammar school for girls.

She said: "It was designed in a very handsome way. Stoke-on-Trent City Council had wanted the best for its children.

"I'm hoping the tradition of having the best will carry on."

Other residents expressed fears yesterday that the new building could encroach on green space known as The Croft.

But officials have said they will be using the existing site footprint and won't build on either the open land or the school's playing fields. They will also keep a public footpath on the site. The new development would be a mix of two and three-storey blocks, with 150 car parking spaces.

Chris Betts, aged 59, has lived opposite Thistley Hough High for about 20 years.

She said: "I've seen an increase in traffic as parents drive their children to school. If pupil numbers go up, it's going to get worse.

"I'm also concerned the new building would block my view of Hanchurch Woods."

Thistley Hough currently has 858 pupils, and the new school would cater for up to 1,200. It would include provision for post-16 courses, such as diplomas, as well as for 11 to 16-year-olds.

The school is likely to attract extra pupils once nearby St Peter's High closes to make way for a church-sponsored academy in Fenton.

Gill Miller, chairman of governors at Thistley Hough, said plans were at an early stage. She added: "If it's possible to retain something of the old building, that would be the best. But the determining factor will be what is best for 21st century education.

"We have been thinking about having flexible rooms for group work. There are lots of ideas."

Related content: