The Green Belt and the Two High Schools

As explained in a previous edition of FOCUS, the Herts & Essex and Bishop's Stortford Boys' High Schools want to sell off their existing sites for housing and move to a large green belt site south of the town.

We thank everyone who signed the two petitions (one for the County and one for the District Councils). We are especially grateful to the Bishop's Stortford Civic Federation for collecting signatures and the many individuals who collected signatures in their own locality. There was, and is, fierce opposition across the political spectrum

The response was been amazing. Thank you all!

There are many reasons for objecting, including (but not exclusively) intrusion into the green belt, the inevitable huge increases in traffic congestion and exacerbation of existing problems at busy junctions as well as the impact on local air quality due to the extra school runs.

Most of all are the impacts of a further 775 new dwellings across the town and the loss of the Herts & Essex playing field in Beldams Lane .

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS are calling on the County Council to build a NEW SCHOOL, on the RESERVED site at Patmore Close in the north-west corner of the town. This site was originally earmarked by the County for a new school as it then foresaw the need for extra school places as the population of the town increased.

The six related Planning Applications have since been withdrawn - but this gives the schools, and the County Council, the opportunity to come back with fresh proposals.

The LibDems will scrutinise most carefully any revised plans that may come forward and will remain in total opposition to any submissions that include the green belt site being given over to the two schools.