TWO Felixstowe schools have received top awards for improving the environment of the resort.

TWO Felixstowe schools have received top awards for improving the environment of the resort.

Fairfield Infants and Langer Primary have both been praised for the new extensions to their Victorian buildings - developments which have kept the character of the original schools and provided much-needed modern accommodation and facilities.

The Enhancement of the Environment Awards were presented by conservation group The Felixstowe Society at its annual meeting.

Society secretary Gillian Hughes said the judges had been very impressed with the work at Fairfield Infants, which has given the school a new hall and offices, feeling great care hade been taken to blend the new building with the old, including following through the brick decoration from the original.

“The new hall and offices have greatly improved the facilities and with the addition of a small corner section, the children can now get from one end of the school to the other without having to go outside,” she said.

The work at Langer Primary had provided new offices and classrooms. A previous extension in 1993 to create a hall and library had also received an award.

“We gave Langer Primary an award for their first extension which was added very sympathetically to a Victorian building,” said Mrs Hughes.

“This new extension has again blended in very well with the other buildings and the overall effect is very pleasing.”

Headteacher Catherine Banthorp accepted the award on behalf of the school, accompanied by previous head David Leney, who, along with chairman of governors Doreen Savage, had been very involved in the planning stages of the building project.

Fairfield headteacher Jane Reed will be presented with the certificate at the school.

The society also presented a certificate of commendation to Quest Homes and Construction (East Anglia) Ltd for the rebuilding of the wall, together with the preservation of the old wall, at Cranmer Cliff Gardens, in Maybush Lane.

The judging committee was impressed with the care taken to use similar sized bricks in the rebuilding which helped in preserving the old wall.

The company's managing director Neil Quinton accepted the award, accompanied by chairman Nigel Downton.

What are Felixstowe's best and worst buildings - who deserves bouquets and who should get brickbats? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk