The grammar school has been given the thumbs up for a new school and sports hall at the current site at College Walk just off the Lough Road which will cost around £12 million.

However, a meeting was due to be held in the town last night (Wednesday) to explore the possibilities for the College including relocation to the Gilford Road adjacent to Lurgan Junior High on a site already owned by the education board.

The meeting in the Jethro Centre has been organised by Protestant clergy in Lurgan under the guise of Lurgan Minister's Fellowship.

In a statement to the 'MAIL' Lurgan Minister's Fellowship said: "We are holding a meeting with some of the local political representatives and other interested parties to discuss the future of post-primary education in the local area.

"We have been aware of the excellent consultation carried out within the local maintained sector and are concerned that no such consultation has been carried out within the controlled sector.

"We wish to explore the issues with our local politicians, raise our concerns about the perceived lack of a clear strategy for post primary provision in the area and look at ways in which local opinion could be sought.

"We do wish to stress that our main concerns are less to do with the siting of the new development at the Lurgan College site and more to do with equality of provision for all our post primary young people."

Wednesday's meeting was invitation only and the 'MAIL' was told we were not on the guestlist.

It's also understood no-one from Lurgan College was asked to represent the school at the meeting.

Not only would a move away from the College Walk setting see the school almost certainly lose the £12 million investment, but it would also be without its 19th century facade which is to be retained as part of the new build.

Principal Trevor Robinson told the 'MAIL': "The investment was awarded based on an economic appraisal of the current school site - it's not transferable.

He added: "The appraisal began in 2002. It's taken this long and we're concerned this (debate over the site for the new college) could interfere with this programme.

"The loss of £12 million would be a blow not only to the controlled sector in Lurgan, but to the people and sports clubs of Lurgan."

The education board told the 'MAIL' they would not be commenting on what had become a political debate.