Three Rivers District Council is inviting local residents to feed back their views on how land will be used in the district in future. This includes locals’ views on which of the recommended secondary school sites should be used. To reply by 5 March 2012 to the Three Rivers District Council consultation on possible secondary school sites, click here. Click on the ‘Site Allocations DPD Consultation’ and answer the questions raised by the ‘Education Sites’ section of the document.
To view the detailed Hertfordshire County Council reports on each site submitted to Three Rivers District Council, click here.
The three proposed secondary school sites are:
a) Mill End/Maple Cross: Land east of A405 (North Orbital)/north of A412.
b) Mill End/Maple Cross: Froghall Farm and adjoining land.
c) Croxley Green: Land north–east of Baldwins Lane.
Please note that the Education experts, Hertfordshire County Council, is seeking TWO sites (one on Croxley and one in Mill End) and only recommends that a successful school will be able to operate on sites a) and c). For your information only, it is the opinion of the WD3 SAG that the Three Rivers District Council’s recommendation to build a school on Site b) ignores the weaknesses of that site highlighted by the education and highways experts, and the abnormally higher cost to the tax-payer of building on Site b).
Based on the detailed Hertfordshire County Council technical studies (see link above), our concerns about whether a successful school can be operated at Three Rivers’ recommended site include:
1. The playing fields would have to be located remote from the school buildings – this would result in a security and child safety problem for staff.
2. The school buildings may not be possible because the building zone would be limited by development to the existing roundabout. A big enough school may not be possible. Irrespective of Three River’s claims, it is the Highways Department’s policy to not consider alternatives to the re-development/move of this roundabout to facilitate the school’s entrance as long as another possible school site exists.
3. Abnormal costs will be incurred due amongst others things to the re-development/move of the existing roundabout, resolution of purchase of the site from the at least 5 land owners, removal of a raised concrete platform on the playing field part of the site, resolution of possible soil decontamination, and resolution of building on a former landfill site.
Consultation documents and response forms are available for you:
(i) At the Council’s offices (Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL).
(ii) All libraries in Three Rivers.
(iii) The Council’s website via the above link.
The Council’s website page tells you about consultation events that its Development Plans Team will be holding to which you can go and learn more. We recommend you call the Council on 01923 776611 (Minicom 01923 727303) prior to attending to check that the event details are still correct.
