PARENTS are protesting after a decision was made to change the name of a historic village primary school without any consultation.

Governors at Adlington Primary are renaming the Park Road school White Bear Primary School to create a new identity and prevent confusion with other similarly named schools in the village.

But parents are not happy with the chosen name because they feel it would associate the school, which dates back to 1839, with the popular White Bear pub, which is opposite Park Road on the A6.

They have organised a petition against the new name and hope to collect enough signatures to force governors into a re-think. Steve Walkden's eight-year-old daughter attends the school, he said: "They claim there has been confusion over post with other schools in Adlington, but calling it White Bear will only confuse it with other establishments of the same name such as the pub, marina and coach company.

"Parents are not against a name change in principle, but think a more suitable one, such as Park Road School, could be found."

He added: "What angers us is the lack of consultation. A letter asking if there would be any objections to a name change was sent home at the end of the summer term, but no indication of possible alternatives was given and only a few parents responded because it was the wrong time of year. The next we heard was six months later, when a letter was sent home last week saying a special meeting of the governors had taken place and it was all decided."

Chair of governors Alan Seddon said: "The power to change the school's name lies soley with the governors. Parents were informed about the proposals on two occasions and we received no objections.

"During a special governors' meeting this month the 15 governors voted on a number of possible names and White Bear was chosen.

"It is appropriate because it is synonymous with the area and there are several other establishments with that name already. Parents are invited to object to the change if they, wish and if we receive sufficient objections we will consider calling a meeting with parents."

Adlington councillor Mick Davies said: "I agree with the parents, I think there should have been more consultation because it affects everybody. Even older residents who went there will have to change their CVs.

"If they had consulted with a few more people this could have been prevented."

If more than 15 objections from parents are received then the governors will hold a public meeting.