Published: 03/12/2008 00:00 -
Updated: 13/01/2009 11:26
GOVERNORS have withdrawn their scheme to move two Bishop's Stortford schools to a Green Belt site on the edge of town, it was revealed at lunchtime today, Wednesday December 3.
The announcement of a rethink comes in the wake of planning officials yesterday recommending East Herts district councillors reject the controversial project by Bishop's Stortford High and Herts & Essex High to expand and move to a shared site off Whittington Way.
The secondaries' existing campuses in London Road, Warwick Road and Beldams Lane would be redeveloped for a total of 700 homes under the application, along with Herts County Council's reserved education site in Hadham Road.
East Herts had called a special development control committee meeting for next Tuesday, December 9, to determine the applications.
Stortford High chairman of governors Rodney Stock, who leads the schools' scheme, said today: "The decision to promote the re-location of the two schools was not taken lightly - if there were an easy alternative to the re-location and expansion of the two schools in order to provide the additional secondary school places required we would not have put forward our scheme.
"We believe that our proposed relocation and phased expansion is the best possible solution, ensuring the future of secondary school education in Bishop's Stortford.
"However, in light of the officers' report we have decided to withdraw the application in order to review our proposals.
"It is acknowledged by all parties that there is a pressing need for additional secondary school places in Bishop's Stortford. The two schools are committed to working with the Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council to resolve this issue in the best interests of Bishop's Stortford."
The announcement of a rethink comes in the wake of planning officials yesterday recommending East Herts district councillors reject the controversial project by Bishop's Stortford High and Herts & Essex High to expand and move to a shared site off Whittington Way.
The secondaries' existing campuses in London Road, Warwick Road and Beldams Lane would be redeveloped for a total of 700 homes under the application, along with Herts County Council's reserved education site in Hadham Road.
East Herts had called a special development control committee meeting for next Tuesday, December 9, to determine the applications.
Stortford High chairman of governors Rodney Stock, who leads the schools' scheme, said today: "The decision to promote the re-location of the two schools was not taken lightly - if there were an easy alternative to the re-location and expansion of the two schools in order to provide the additional secondary school places required we would not have put forward our scheme.
"We believe that our proposed relocation and phased expansion is the best possible solution, ensuring the future of secondary school education in Bishop's Stortford.
"However, in light of the officers' report we have decided to withdraw the application in order to review our proposals.
"It is acknowledged by all parties that there is a pressing need for additional secondary school places in Bishop's Stortford. The two schools are committed to working with the Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council to resolve this issue in the best interests of Bishop's Stortford."
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