Hundreds of parents in Harpenden are concerned a new secondary school in the town will not open on time.

More than 200 people desperate to see Harpenden Secondary Free School open in 2017 attended a public meeting tonight following concerns children will be left without school places.

Hertfordshire County Council confirmed it was trying to acquire the pedigree cattle-raising farm on the corner of Common Lane and Lower Luton Road in Batford in order to build a new six form of entry secondary school.

However, representatives from the council who attended the meeting in Harpenden said the school would not definitely open in 2017 because the site had not yet been acquired and no planning application submitted.

However, they said if they are able to secure the site, which was chosen as favourite from six potential locations, and planning permission was granted, the school could still open in time and be based in temporary buildings on the permanent site.

Harpenden Parents Group hosted the meeting after raising concerns of the lack of progress on the new school, given the “desperate situation” for many families who have found that there are not enough local school places for their children.

Council figures forecast a shortfall in the town’s secondary schools will increase from at least 120 in 2017 to 248 in 2019.

In March, Harpenden Secondary Education Trust (HSET), comprising of members from Roundwood Park, St George’s and Sir John Lawes Schools, Rothamsted Research and the University of Hertfordshire, successfully submitted a bid to the government to establish the free school, which will cost between £35 million and £56 million.

At that time, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) told the council it would be up to them to secure the site.

David Williams, Harpenden north east councillor and cabinet member for education at the county council, told the meeting that if negotiations with the farm were unsuccessful, a compulsory purchase order would be initiated – but that could take up to two years to approve.

Frustrated parents were told a planning application would most likely take one year to submit and be approved and there would be a further 12 months of building work.

The council said there are contingency plans in place if the school were not to open on time, including securing more school places at other schools in the district.

Cllr Williams said the council, along with the HSET, and the EFA are all committed to working towards the “quickest possible route” to provide a new school to serve the Harpenden school planning area.

In order for the school to open in 2017, a planning application would have to be approved by this time next year, so the council could put the school as an option for parents submitting applications for 2017.

For more reaction, pick up next week's Review. What do you think about the situation? Comment below or email charlotte.ikonen@london.newsquest.co.uk.