RADCLIFFE Baths could be closed and replaced with a modern pool on the site of the town's proposed new "super school".

And the borough's only secondary special school could also be relocated to the former East Lancashire Paper Mill site, which has been earmarked for a state-of-the-art school to replace Coney Green High School and Radcliffe High School.

These are two of the options which the Bury Times can reveal are being considered as part of a £37.5 million package of improvements for high school education in the borough.

Bury Council wants to look at the possibility of closing the Green Street pool, selling the site and using the proceeds to help pay for the new pool.

Radcliffe councillor and executive member for lifelong learning Steve Perkins, said: "If the idea for the swimming pool proves feasible and cost effective then it would be a good idea."

Separate proposals to move Elms Bank High School to new accommodation, developed alongside the proposed new "super school", are also being looked at.

Council chiefs feel the existing school building in Ripon Avenue, Whitefield, which caters for secondary school age children with disabilities, has deficiencies in its condition and suitability.

They believe that placing the school alongside the new Radcliffe school will achieve a higher degree of integration and provide access by pupils attending both schools to a wider range of facilities.

The news has come as a surprise to Ms Lynn Lines, the head teacher of Elms Bank High School, which this year saw the opening of a new £200,000 sports hall.

While admitting that she knew nothing about the proposals, Ms Lines did say there are major concerns about the condition of the school but declined to comment further.

Coun Perkins said: "The important thing is to get proposals for the new Radcliffe school in. It's early days for the pool or moving Elms Bank High School and a lot of consultation will have to be done first."

Town hall bosses last week gave the green light to rebuild three local schools with £37.5 million of private money.

They will submit a bid for cash through the controversial Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in the new year.

It has emerged that the new school for Radcliffe would only take up about one-third of the PFI money, or £12.2 million. Substantial rebuilding work would also take place at Tottington High (costing £13 million) and Derby High (about £12.2 million).

Councillors at the latest executive approved the bid, which could be the first of many to bring in money for the borough's remaining high schools.