A SCHOOL expansion that caused a row when work was started without permission has been officially opened.

Intack Primary School head teacher Rachel Cairney had to apply for retrospective approval for modular buildings on the playground of the Whitebirk Road premises last year.

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And when it was being considered by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee in September, councillors hit out at their own education department for letting work begin without consent.

The extension, which was approved despite the concerns, provides extra classrooms, community areas and early years provision for three and four-year-olds.

Ms Cairney said: “Everyone in school is extremely proud and pleased with this opportunity to provide more services to parents and our local community.

“This is an exciting time for Intack Primary School.”

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Councillor Dave Harling, executive member for schools and education, said: “It is really important as a council that we invest in both primary and secondary schools.

“The authority has been hit hard over the past few years but we must always ensure our children and young people get the best possible start in life.

“This investment and others like it will allow this to happen.”

At the planning meeting last year, Higher Croft councillor Don McKinlay said: “This is terrible. Do the people in our education department not talk to planning?

“Do they not realise that if you want to put up classrooms, you need permission?

“It is quite wrong for our local authority to ignore planning rules in this way.”

Committee chairman Dave Smith said it was “not acceptable”.

The buildings were officially opened by Blackburn MP Jack Straw, along with council leader Kate Hollern and mayor Alan Cottam.

At the opening, Mr Straw said: “This is a great school.”