Parents say there is still a long way to go until a “badly needed new school” in Harpenden is open.

The site for a new secondary school in Harpenden was secured earlier this month, but while members of Harpenden Parents Group welcome its arrival, their focus has turned to the new school opening on time.

Contracts were exchanged on Friday, January 15 with the owners of the site – land adjacent to Lower Luton Road and Common Lane.

Since then, Hertfordshire County Council have been working with the Education Funding Authority – who will be building the school - and the Harpenden Secondary Education Trust to achieve planning permission for the development.

Thomas Parrott, a member of the group, said: “Harpenden Parents Group welcomes this long overdue development in the process of establishing the new school.

“There is still a long way to go to establish the school.

“We urge the Harpenden Secondary Education Trust and the Education Funding Agency to make their planning application as soon as possible.

“The opening date for the school has already slipped to September 2017, be under no illusion, there is a huge amount of work that now needs to be done to maintain that date.

“Any delay will have a major detrimental effect on many children in the Harpenden Education Area.

“Residents, especially parents, should support the application during the planning process to help the badly needed new school open on time.”

The group has organised a question and answer evening on February 22.

Parents will have the opportunity to question county councillors, Hertfordshire County Council planning officials and the education and applications teams about the new school.

To keep up with the latest Harpenden Parents Group updates, visit http://www.Facebook.com/HarpendenParentsGroup.