In and around Harpenden the decision to build a new secondary school on the corner of Common Lane and Lower Luton Road has caused controversy. The decision is bound to cause debate.
First, it is being built on greenbelt land. Second, it will have a huge impact on the immediate homes around the area.
There certainly is a need for a new secondary school in this area. Pressure on places in the area's secondary schools remains high.
A decision like this by the local authorities must be a truly open and transparent consultation. I know a great deal of ‘consultation’ occurred debating the various issues for this and other sites. I hope it was a fair process.
Resistance to such a decision is understandable given the impact. But education is such a key provision for our society. Democracy depends on educated citizens. So now that a decision has been made, I hope those who remain strongly opposed will consider the community need.
Our society emphasizes the rights of the individual. Our right to choose sometimes means we focus on our own personal wants - 'not in my back yard'.
But sometimes the individual has to make sacrifices for the community. St Paul wrote, ‘Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others’.
Hopefully now that a decision is made we can work together to serve a genuine need in our community.
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