A New Harpenden Secondary School Report of Public Exhibitions (December 2013) February 2014 Prepared by Vincent and Gorbing

A new Harpenden Secondary School Report of Public Exhibitions (December 2013) February 2014 prepared by Vincent and Gorbing

architecture town planning interior design urban design PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

CONTENTS PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

2.0 EXHIBITION ORGANISATION AND FEEDBACK 2

3.0 DATA ANALYSIS 5

4.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 16

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Leaflet delivered to local residents / newspaper advert

Appendix 2 Plan showing leaflet delivery areas

Appendix 3 Copy of newspaper advertisements

Appendix 4 Copy of exhibition boards displayed at exhibition

Appendix 5 Copy of questionnaire given to exhibition attendees

Appendix 6 Redacted emails received after the exhibitions

Appendix 7 Responses from Councils

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Vincent and Gorbing were commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council to organise and attend three public exhibitions to publicise the County Council’s current position in relation to; firstly, past and current education requirements for a new secondary school in Harpenden; and, secondly, the process and outcomes of initial town planning and highways appraisal work undertaken in 2010/2011 to search for, and identify, potential sites for a new secondary school.

1.2 This report sets out the process and outcomes from the public exhibitions which were held on Tuesday 3 December 2013, Wednesday 4 December 2013 and Thursday 5 December 2013.

1.3 Section two of this report sets out the exhibition organisation and feedback namely:

 venues

 advertising

 resourcing

 information provided to attendees

 level of attendance at the exhibitions

 level of feedback

1.4 Section three of this report contains the data analysis of the questionnaires that were returned before the deadline.

1.5 Section four of this report sets out the summary and recommendations.

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2.0 EXHIBITION ORGANISATION AND FEEDBACK

EXHIBITION VENUES

2.1 The exhibitions were held on three consecutive days:

 Tuesday 3 December 2013 at The Grove Junior School, Dark Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 1QB from 3:30‐7:30pm

 Wednesday 4 December 2013 at St Helen’s Church of England Primary School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, St Albans Hertfordshire AL4 8AN from 3:30‐7:30pm

 Thursday 5 December 2013 at Redbourn Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourn, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 7LR from 3:30‐7:30pm

ADVERTISING THE EXHIBITIONS

Leaflet distribution

2.2 The initial town planning appraisal (January 2011) shortlisted three potential sites and one preferred potential site. It was agreed with the County Council that households and businesses living in the area around the three shortlisted potential sites would receive an A5 flyer advertising the exhibition. The leaflet advertising the exhibitions is attached at Appendix 1 and the leaflet distribution areas are attached at Appendix two.

2.3 The leaflet was also sent by email to all the primary and secondary schools in the Harpenden Education planning area for onward transmission to all parents with pupils in existing schools.

2.4 The leaflets were displayed in public locations in Wheathampstead, Redbourn, Kimpton and Harpenden.

Newspaper advertisement

2.5 A newspaper advertisement was printed in the Herts Advertiser Newspaper two weeks preceding the exhibition on Thursday 21 November and Thursday 28 November 2013 (copies of advertisements are attached at Appendix 3).

EXHIBITION RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

2.6 The exhibitions were attended by a team of: officers of the County Council from the Children’s Services Department; officers of the County Council from the Property and Technology Department; town planning consultants from Vincent and Gorbing; and civil engineering consultants from Stomor Ltd. The objective of the exhibition resourcing was to ensure that questions

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relating to education, estates, town planning and highways, raised by the public could be addressed by the relevant team members.

2.7 In order to ensure that members of the public had good accessibility to the exhibition material, two sets of panel displays were produced alongside 20 A3 bound copies of the panel material which were left on tables. A3 bound copies of site photographs were also available on the tables for reference.

2.8 Copies of the panel content are attached at Appendix 4.

2.9 The purpose of the exhibition was set out in the first panel to:

 Explain the steps that the County Council have taken to date to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of school places in the local area

 Set out the forecast demand for additional school places in Harpenden

 Explain why the existing Harpenden secondary schools cannot be expanded to meet that current forecast demand

 Set out the process used to search for a potential new secondary school site in Harpenden

 Explain why some potential secondary school sites have been rejected

 Set out the County Councils currently preferred site for a new secondary school

 Set out the next steps of the process in order for the County Council to be in a position to definitively demonstrate “very special circumstances” and move forward with a planning application

 Set out the processes for completing and reporting that work to the local community

EXHIBITION ATTENDANCE

2.10 Attendees to the exhibition were asked to register on arrival at the venues.

2.11 Exhibition attendance was as follows:

 The Grove Junior School Harpenden: 248 attendees

 St Helens Church of England Primary School Wheathampstead: 210 attendees

 Redbourn Parish Council: 60 attendees

2.12 In total there were 518 attendees at the exhibitions across the three evenings.

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EXHIBITION FEEDBACK

2.13 A questionnaire (to be treated confidentially) was prepared and given to attendees on arrival at the exhibitions. The questionnaire is attached at Appendix 5.

2.14 The questionnaire was designed to; gather the views of the local community on the feasibility work undertaken to date; and, to establish their understanding of the current position.

2.15 The number of questionnaires completed at the exhibitions was as follows:

 The Grove School Harpenden: 143

 St Helens Church of England Primary School Wheathampstead: 144

 Redbourn Parish Centre: 48

2.16 In total there were 335 questionnaires completed and returned at the exhibitions. After the exhibitions a further 190 questionnaires were completed and returned to Vincent and Gorbing making a total of 525 questionnaires completed and returned before the deadline.

2.17 The number of questionnaires completed and returned [525] at the exhibitions is slightly higher than the number of attendees [518] at the three exhibitions. This is likely to be as a consequence of some people having viewed the exhibition material on line; or, they may have attended a further exhibition prepared by Batford residents (using the exhibition panels) which was held on Thursday 12 December 2013 before the deadline for the questionnaires.

2.18 Following the exhibitions 104 emails were subsequently received, of which 2 emails were received after the deadline of Thursday 12 December 2013. Some of the emails responded to the questions in the questionnaire. These have been included in the data analysis. Some of the emails contained general comments. Those few emails containing general comments that have not been fed into the data analysis are redacted and attached at Appendix 6 for information.

2.19 Wheathampstead Parish Council and Redbourn Parish Council formally responded to the questionnaire prior to the deadline. Kimpton Parish Council formally responded to the questionnaire but this response was received after the deadline. No formal response to the questionnaire or the exhibition material was received from Harpenden Town Council. No formal response to the questionnaire or the exhibition material was received from St Albans City and District Council.

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3.0 DATA ANALYSIS

DATA COLLATION

3.1 Questionnaire responses (treated as confidential) were recorded in a spreadsheet. Each questionnaire was given a unique reference with name and postcode being recorded.

3.2 Questions 1‐3 on the questionnaire were entirely yes/no/maybe questions. These could be recorded numerically and percentage calculations made.

3.3 Question 4 was a yes/no/maybe question and could be recorded numerically with a percentage calculation but the question also asked the respondents to give the reasons for both the yes and no answers. There were several reasons given and, following an initial reading of the questionnaires, a code system was set up to comprehensively record answers.

3.4 To the answer that Site F should be identified as a preferred site the following reasons and codes were established:

1 School is needed

2 Build a new school as soon as possible

3 HCC should determine the best site (using research/work to be undertaken)

4 Loss of part of a horse stud on Site G

5 Flood risk on site G

6 Adverse impacts on hedgerows/trees on Site G

7 Increased traffic generation/congestion in Pipers Lane/Ayres End Lane for site G

8 Site F has good pedestrian access to Wheathampstead

9 Site F is located on a bus route

10 Site F is well located for Kimpton residents

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3.5 To the answer that Site F should not be identified as a preferred site the following reasons and codes were established:

1 Increased traffic generation/congestion (Lower Luton Road/ Common Lane/Batford Ford/Marquis Lane or other local road near to the site and poor vehicular accessibility)

2 Adverse impact on the Green Belt (coalescence between Batford and Wheathampstead)

3 Adverse impact on the landscape (terracing, visual intrusion)

4 Adverse impact on the Conservation Area/listed buildings

5 Adverse impact on ecology (Batford Springs/hedgerows/tree removal)

6 Road safety (pedestrians crossing Lower Luton Road, number of existing accidents, number of potential additional accidents arising)

7 Poor pedestrian access (across Batford Springs/Marquis Lane and from other parts of the town)

8 Too close to existing schools (wrong location for school, pupil demand in other parts of the town)

9 Loss of agricultural land

10 High construction costs

11 Other more suitable sites (in the urban area, Wheathampstead, golf courses)

12 Flood risk on Site F

13 Expand existing schools instead

14 Shape of site is too irregular

15 Site is too close to new elderly persons home under construction

3.6 Question 5 was a yes/no/maybe question and could be recorded numerically with a percentage calculation. Question 5 also asked the respondent to state other sites which they considered to be more appropriate than the currently preferred site. The majority of respondents selected the sites considered in the initial appraisal work.

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3.7 Questions 6, 7 and 8 were yes/no questions and could be recorded numerically.

3.8 The reverse of the sheet recorded any additional responses and, in addition to the codes set out above, the following codes were established:

1 Questionnaire is unclear (what is a walking distance?/ambiguous or loaded questions)

2 Lack of consultation (a decision has been made/process is agreed)

3 Wheathampstead School should never have been closed

4 Need more work to identify the best site (technical/where pupils are coming from)

5 I do not support Free Schools

6 Exhibition should have been held in Batford

QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES

Q1 Do you agree that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden and the surrounding areas? [525 responses to this question]

Yes No Maybe No response

430 (81.90%) 11 (2.10%) 79 (15.05%) 5 (0.95%)

Q2 Do you agree that the need for additional secondary school places is unlikely to be fully met through the expansion of existing Harpenden Secondary Schools? [525 responses to this question]

Yes No Maybe No response

340 (64.76%) 53 (10.10%) 126 (24.00%) 6 (1.14%)

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Q3 Do you agree that a new secondary school site should be identified to meet the needs of Harpenden and the surrounding areas? [525 responses to this question]

Yes No Maybe No response

391 (74.48%) 29 (5.52%) 92 (17.52%) 13 (2.48%)

Q4 Do you agree that Site F (land to the north of Lower Luton Road) should be identified as a preferred site for a new secondary school? [525 responses to this question]

Yes No Maybe No response

194 (36.95%) 240 (45.71%) 76 (14.48%) 15 (2.86%)

If yes why?

Code number Reason Number of responses

1 School is needed 66

3 HCC should determine the best 63 site (using research/work to be undertaken)

2 Build a new school as soon as 59 possible

8 Site F has good pedestrian access 22 to Wheathampstead

7 Increased traffic generation and 21 congestion in Pipers Lane/Ayres End Lane for site G

10 Site F is well located for Kimpton 19 residents

9 Site F is located on a bus route 14

6 Adverse impacts on 4 hedgerows/trees on Site G

5 Flood risk on site G 3

4 Loss of part of a horse stud on 2 Site G

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Q4 Do you agree that Site F should be identified as a preferred site for a new secondary school? (cont.)

If no why?

Code Reason Number of responses

1 Increased traffic generation/congestion (Lower 220 Luton Road, or Common Lane, or Batford Ford or Marquis Lane or other local road near to the site and poor vehicular accessibility)

8 Too close to existing schools (wrong location for 124 school, pupil demand in other parts of the town)

2 Adverse impact on the Green Belt (coalescence 82 between Batford and Wheathampstead)

6 Road safety (pedestrians crossing Lower Luton 79 Road, number of existing accidents, number of potential additional accidents arising)

3 Adverse impact on the landscape (terracing, 64 visual intrusion)

7 Poor pedestrian access (across Batford 58 Springs/Marquis Lane and from other parts of the town)

4 Adverse impact on the Conservation Area/listed 22 buildings

9 Loss of agricultural land 31

10 High construction costs 24

13 Expand existing schools instead 24

5 Adverse impact on ecology (Batford 19 Springs/hedgerows/tree removal)

11 Other more suitable sites (in the urban area, 15 Wheathampstead, golf courses)

15 Site is too close to new elderly persons home 9 under construction

14 Shape of site is too irregular 8

12 Flood risk on Site F 7

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Q5 Do you consider that there are more appropriate sites for a new secondary school? [525 responses to this question]

Yes No Maybe No response

228 (43.43%) 131 (24.95%) 126 (24.00%) 40 (7.62%)

If yes, where? Number of responses

Site G 131

Other 35

Site A 28

Site H 25

Site E 18

Site K 16

Site J 13

Site I 12

Site B 4

Site C 3

Site D 2

TOTAL 287

3.9 The total number of responses [287] above to this question exceeds the total number of yes answers [228] because some respondents ticked more than one site as being an appropriate alternative site.

Q6 Do you live within walking distance of:

Site A Site F Site G

Yes 46 (8.76%) Yes 231 (44.00%) Yes 196 (37.33%)

TOTAL: 473

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Q7 Please can you tell us whether you have children below the age of 16 in your household?

Yes 245 (46.67%) No 262 (49.90%) No response 18 (3.43%)

Q8 Please can you tell us if you are the holder of an elected office?

Yes 26 (4.95%) No 473 (90.10%) No response 26 (4.95%)

Additional responses (in addition to those noted above)

Code number Reason Number of responses

4 Need more work to identify the best site 62 (technical/where pupils are coming from)

2 Lack of consultation (a decision has been 33 made/process is agreed)

3 Wheathampstead School should never 26 have been closed

6 Exhibition should have been held in 15 Batford

1 Questionnaire is unclear (what is a 5 walking distance?/ambiguous or loaded questions)

5 I do not support Free Schools 6

RESPONSES FROM COUNCILS

Wheathampstead Parish Council response

3.10 An email containing a completed questionnaire and covering letter was received from Julia Warren on behalf of Wheathampstead Parish Council on 12 December 2013. This is attached at Appendix 7.

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3.11 The response was as follows:

“Q1 Do you agree that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden? YES

Q2 Do you agree that the need for additional secondary school places is unlikely to be fully met through the expansion of existing Harpenden Secondary Schools? YES

Q3 Do you agree that a new secondary school site should be identified to meet the needs of Harpenden and the surrounding areas? YES

Q4 Do you agree that Site F (land north of Lower Luton Road) should be identified as the preferred site for a new secondary school? NO

Wheathampstead Parish Council does not believe it can identify a preference at this point given the limited analysis to date in what is a fairly high level review.

On the basis of the analysis so far Site F appears to suffer the following disadvantages (these disadvantageous observations are not necessarily in a preference order):

 Lack of geographic diversity of education provision

 Coalescence of Harpenden and Wheathampstead (one small field would separate the settlements which are thereon continuous)

 Lower Luton Road is an alternative to the A1 to London Luton airport and the M1 diversion route both formally and in periods of congestion on the M1

 Lower Luton Road is already congested at peak school hours backing up to Castle Rise from Lamer Lane caused by school traffic to the small private school (Wheathampstead House) on Codicote Road. Such traffic chaos would be far worse if a secondary school is sited on Site F

 Wheathampstead children would not be eligible for free bus passes, thus encouraging the use of private cars and country lanes to avoid the Lower Luton Road gridlock

 Residential use of narrow lanes is considered inevitable

 There would be increased traffic on single track lanes – Common Lane, the Slype, Leasey Bridge Lane, Mackerye End, Marshalls Heath Lane

 Increased traffic volume along Mackerye End past Mackerye End House – Grade 1 listed property. Site F would encourage this route for traffic from the north/north‐east

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 A pedestrian crossing at Crabtree lane would create further gridlock by regularly stopping traffic flow

 This abuts Mackerye End conservation area (not mentioned in V&G)

 One of the direct routes is via a ford in Batford Springs Nature Reserve at the bottom of Crabtree Lane to Lower Luton Road (ford currently allows river crossing)

 Routes to site F from the south are limited by 2 river crossing points

 River crossing points (4 – being 2 from the south and 2 from the north) all constrict traffic movement (Leasey Bridge Lane is a single track Road, Crabtree Lane currently a ford) others are Station Road and Westfield Road

 Potential knock on impact of part of nearby Batford Springs nature Reserve

 Additional construction costs and timescales to terrace a sloping site

 Very conspicuous site in an aesthetically pleasing position and landscape conservation area

 Site F is described as critical in SADC’s strategic local plan and CPRE describe it as one of the most vulnerable in terms of development

 Floodlight spillage would be significant

 Hertfordshire is a mixed agricultural community. HCC conservation report says that where possible dairy and beef farming should be preserved. This is one of the few active farms in the area

 Dangerous walk to school along Lower Luton Road

Q5 Do you consider that there are more appropriate sites for a new secondary school? MAYBE

Wheathampstead Parish Council reiterates its agreement that there is a need for additional secondary provision. It is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to reject most of the identified potential sites, and enough evidence to shortlist sites A, F and G.

We would like Hertfordshire County Council to commission a more detailed assessment of sites A, F and G (their preferred sites) rather than relying on the planning process which will only decide whether a single proposed site is suitable – not whether it is the right site.

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It is anticipated that such an assessment would include demographic data (density of need, journey times, methods and routes) detailed traffic surveys covering the wider area, and costs (we believe that, to date, this has not been done)

It is considered inappropriate to purchase site F as this pre‐determines the outcome of choice of site.

It is recommended that the planning application for Site F is not submitted until after the detailed study of all 3 shortlisted sites has been completed as this also suggests pre‐determination.

Additional information

It is suggested that the analysis of the selection criteria for potential sites be weighted, that a selection panel be agreed and that the selection panel perform independent scoring prior to collective scoring. Scores can then be multiplied by their weighting to aid in selecting the most appropriate site (this identifies where there is common agreement or differences and allows for an analysis of variance)”.

Redbourn Parish Council response

3.12 A completed questionnaire was submitted by Cllr David Mitchell on behalf of Redbourn Parish Council at the exhibition held on Thursday 5 December 2013. This response is attached at Appendix 7. The response was as follows:

“Q1 Do you agree that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden? YES

Q2 Do you agree that the need for additional secondary school places is unlikely to be fully met through the expansion of existing Harpenden Secondary Schools? YES

Q3 Do you agree that a new secondary school site should be identified to meet the needs of Harpenden and the surrounding areas? YES

Q4 Do you agree that Site F (land north of Lower Luton Road) should be identified as the preferred site for a new secondary school? MAYBE

Q5 Do you consider that there are more appropriate sites for a new secondary school? MAYBE

Q6 Please could you tell us whether you live within walking distance of Site A (NO) site F (NO) and site G (NO).

Q7 Please can you tell us whether you have children below the age of 11 in your house? NO

Q8 Please can you tell us if you are the holder of an elected office? YES

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Additional information

Redbourn Parish Council supports the proposal for a new secondary school but remains neutral about the site”.

Kimpton Parish Council response

3.13 An email was received from Carina Helm on behalf of Kimpton Parish Council on 9 January 2013. This response is attached at Appendix 7. The response was as follows:

“Q1 Do you agree that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden? Strong YES

Q2 Do you agree that the need for addition secondary school places is unlikely to be fully met through the expansion of existing Harpenden Secondary Schools? Strong YES

Q3 Do you agree that a new secondary school site should be identified to meet the needs of Harpenden and the surrounding areas? YES

Q4 Do you agree that Site F (land north of Lower Luton Road) should be identified as the preferred site for a new secondary school?

YES – While we are not totally comfortable with some aspects of this site, we feel that broadly the same reservations will apply to any of the other sites and, as a community; we feel that any ongoing delay in this school being ready will be extremely detrimental. For these reasons Kimpton Parish Council is in support of Site F”.

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4.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY

4.1 Three public exhibitions were held in December 2013 to explain the requirement for a new secondary school in Harpenden; and, the process and outcome of initial town planning and highways appraisal work undertaken in 2011 to search for and identify potential sites for a new secondary school. The exhibitions were attended by 518 people and 525 questionnaires were completed and returned before the deadline.

4.2 In summary the results from the questionnaires returned were:

81.90% [430] of respondents agreed that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden

64.76% [340] of respondents agreed that the need for additional secondary school places is unlikely to be fully met through the expansion of existing secondary schools

74.48% [391] of respondents agreed that a new secondary school site should be identified in Harpenden

45.71% [240] of respondents did not agree that site F should be identified as a preferred secondary school site

14.48% [76] of respondents agreed that site F maybe identified as a preferred secondary school site

36.95% [194] of respondents thought that site F should be identified as a preferred secondary school site

194 respondents considered that Site F was appropriate since: a new school is needed; Hertfordshire County Council should determine the best site (using research and work to be undertaken); the new school should be built as soon as possible; Site F has good pedestrian access to Wheathampstead; there would be increased traffic generation and congestion on the local road network for site G; Site F is well located for Kimpton parents; Site F is located on a bus route; there would be adverse impacts on hedgerows and trees on site G; there is a flood risk on site G; and, the development of Site G for a new secondary school would lead to the loss of part of the Pipers Lane horse stud.

240 respondents considered that Site F was not appropriate for a school in this location since; it would lead to increased traffic generation and congestion on the local road network around Site F and the site was not accessible; it would be too close to existing schools; there would be adverse impact on the Green Belt; since the road network in the site vicinity is unsafe; there would be adverse impacts on the landscape; there would be

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poor pedestrian access; there would be a loss of agricultural land; it would be located too close to the new elderly persons accommodation; there would be adverse impacts on the Conservation Area; there would be adverse impact on ecology; since there are more suitable sites elsewhere; it would lead to high construction costs; there is a flood risk; and the site is too irregular in shape for a secondary school.

43.43% of respondents considered that there were more appropriate sites (than Site F) for a secondary school. A total of 287 responses to alternative sites were named;

Site G: 131 responses

Site A; 28 responses

Site H: 25 responses

Site E: 18 responses

Site K: 16 responses

Site J: 13 responses

Site I: 12 responses

Site B: 4 responses

Site C: 3 responses

Site D: 2 responses

Other sites: 35 responses

4.3 In conclusion to expressed site preferences, there was more opposition to site F [240 responses] than support for site F [194 responses]. But there was more support for site F [194 responses] than any other single site. Site G attracted the most responses [131 responses] of support as an alternative site. Otherwise support for alternative sites was scattered between the other shortlisted sites and other sites not shortlisted.

4.4 In respect of the remaining questions:

44% of respondents lived within walking distance of Site F

37.33% of respondents lived within walking distance of Site G

8.76% of respondents lived within walking distance of Site A

49.90% of respondents did not have children below the age of 16 in their household

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90.10% of respondents were not holders of elected offices

4.5 In the additional response section respondents listed the following additional comments; more work was needed to identify the best site coming forward; there has been a lack of consultation; Wheathampstead School should never have closed; the public exhibition should have been held in Batford; Free schools are not supported; and the questionnaire is unclear (what is a walking distance, ambiguous or loaded questions).

4.6 Of the Parish Councils that responded (Wheathampstead Parish Council, Redbourn Parish Council and Kimpton Parish Council) all three councils; recognise the need for additional school places, agree that the need for additional school places is unlikely to be met through the expansion of existing secondary schools, and agree that a new secondary school site should be identified to meet the needs of Harpenden and the surrounding area. Wheathampstead Parish Council identified concerns with Site F and recommended that further work be undertaken on the short listed sites before a decision is reached on which site should be selected. Kimpton Parish Council supported site F with some reservations. Redbourn Parish Council remains neutral as to which site should be selected.

RECOMMENDATIONS

4.7 The work presented at the exhibitions was undertaken in 2010/11 in support of the County Council’s representations, at that time, to the emerging St Albans City and District strategic local plan review process. The initial town planning report identified site F as a potential preferred secondary school site.

4.8 As all the sites considered in the 2011 reports are in the Green Belt there is a presumption against development unless it can be demonstrated that “very special circumstances” exist that outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt.

4.9 In order to support a planning application, it would be essential to demonstrate that the County Councils currently preferred site (site F) is definitively the most appropriate site for a new secondary school. It would therefore be essential to ensure that a robust town planning assessment of alternative sites had been completed which identifies the best site in town planning terms. That assessment is then submitted as part of any planning application.

4.10 As such it is recommended that further work will be required to:

 update the town planning and highways appraisals on all the sites A‐K undertaken in 2010/2011

 complete an education needs assessment

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 re‐evaluate the shortlist of sites and amend if necessary

 commission technical studies on shortlisted sites

 evaluate technical studies and select the preferred site

4.11 This work will need to be undertaken before a decision is taken to proceed with a planning application on Site F or any other site in the Green Belt, to enable the “Very Special Circumstances” case to be fully articulated in support of that planning application.

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APPENDIX 1

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Hertfordshire County Council is pleased to host Public Exhibitions of the work it has carried out to date on assessing a site for a new secondary school serving Harpenden, together with details of further work to be undertaken. The County Council would be pleased to meet with you and hear your views on this very important matter.

The dates and locations are listed below for your information.

Tuesday 3 Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 from 3:30-7:30pm from 3:30-7:30pm from 3:30-7:30pm The Grove Junior St. Helen’s Church Redbourn Parish School of England Primary Centre (main hall) Dark Lane School The Park Harpenden Brewhouse Hill Redbourn Hertfordshire Wheathampstead St Albans AL5 1QB St. Albans Hertfordshire Hertfordshire AL3 7LR AL4 8AN

Please note the parking at each of the venues is limited, so if travelling by car please consider the time and venue that suits you best. A new secondary school for Harpenden

Please note the parking at each of the venues is limited, so if travelling by car please consider the time and venue that suits you best PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

APPENDIX 2

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PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

APPENDIX 3

4812/HP/RG/FINAL FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE NO. 22 8 Thursday, November 21, 2013 Herts Advertiser

Go to hertsad24.co.uk for all NEWS the latest local news

Cooking up a Ruby anniversary celebrations for town store festive bake-off for volunteering

Samantha Lewis Greek Kitchen, Tonia Buxton. [email protected] The Year 12 pupils, named Team Evolve, are hosting the event as part Get your whisks at the ready as a of the Dragons’ Apprentice Great British Bake Off-style event is Challenge, which encourages groups coming to St Albans and Apprentice of youngsters to develop business finalist Luisa Zissman is among the ideas to raise money for charity. judging panel. Team member Charlotte The Great Herts Xmas Bake Off Thompson, 16, said: “We are really has been organised by a group of six pleased to have the celebrities on students from St Albans Girls School board because we want to make our to raise money for The Volunteers event unique and I think it gives us Centre, which facilitates and an edge. promotes volunteering in the district. “We have put so much effort into it Adults can enter their festive and we want it to be as successful as baked goods into one of six catego- possible. It is going to be a fun family ries, while children can compete in day out for everyone.” I Tulsi Parmar with Mayor Rosemary Farmer and his daughter Aarti Picture: PHOTOGRAPHIC SYNERGY the Christmas-themed cupcakes and The competition takes place most creative Christmas cake groups. between 11.30am and 4pm on Sunday, A man who began his career in friends and long-standing television. First and second prizes will be December 1, at Marlborough School Kenya as an engineer and customers to mark four Tulsi described the 40th awarded in each category, and the in Watling Street, and cakes should installer has celebrated 40 decades in home anniversary celebrations as lucky overall winner will spend an be brought in between 10.15am and years of business in entertainment. “one of the best events I’ve afternoon baking with Luisa, owner 11.30am. Harpenden. The audio-visual store was been to in decades”. of Dixies Cupcakery in St Albans. During the day there will also be a Tulsi Parmar, owner of AV82, previously known as Bang & In a speech to guests, Cllr Making the difficult decision pop-up tea room, stalls, face painting High Street, was recently Olufsen – with Tulsi the first to Farmer praised Tulsi for his alongside the St Albans business- and biscuit decorating. For more joined by Harpenden Town host the launch of the inaugu- dedication to the local business woman will be Got to Dance winners information visit www.teamevolve. Mayor Cllr Rosemary Farmer, ral Bang & Olufsen 3D community. Chris and Wes and presenter of My org.uk or call 01923 676793. Reader Travel .co.uk/arr brochures www.newmarket www.newmarket.travel/arr Browse our offers and book online at: our offers Browse or request a brochure online at: online at: a brochure or request

Organised by Newmarket Promotions & Air Holidays Ltd ABTA V787X /V7812 ATOL Protected 2325 24 Thursday, November 28, 2013 Herts Advertiser

Go to hertsad24.co.uk for all COURT the latest local news Latest court reports from the St Albans area

I Results published in the Herts Advertiser are taken Drink-driving limits from St Albans, Watford and Hatfield Magistrates Courts and are published without prejudice.

Drink driving

ANDREA BRUNO: 36, of Hill I Breath per 100ml of Close, Harpenden, was fined – 35mcg of blood £380, ordered to pay costs of alcohol per I Urine – £123 and disqualified from 100ml of breath 107mcg of I driving for 12 months after Fare evasion Blood – alcohol per 80mg of alcohol 100ml of urine giving a sample of 48mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath DANIEL PRICE: 29, of Albert while driving in Station Road, Street, St Albans, was fined PETER SMITH: 60, of Taylor Harpenden, on October 9. £200 and ordered to pay Close, St Albans, was fined £37 compensation of £11 and costs plus £70 costs for watching Driving offences of £140 for failing to hand over television without a licence at a valid ticket for inspection the above address on June 20. THOMAS CALLADINE: 38, of while travelling by train en Hemel Hempstead Road, route near Elstree and JOHN PAPP: 50, of Cowper Redbourn, was fined £110, Borehamwood Station on June Road, Markyate, was fined ordered to pay costs of £105 20. £400 plus £130 costs for and disqualified from driving watching television without a for six months for driving MARK MOORE: 30, of Watling licence at the above address on without insurance at Hemel Street, Radlett, was fined £200 May 16. Hempstead on October 10. He and ordered to pay compensa- was also fined £75 for driving tion of £3.80 and costs of £140 Public order offences an unlicensed vehicle and a for failing to hand over a valid further £35 for driving a ticket for inspection while vehicle without a test certifi- travelling by train en route CHRISTY KAVANAGH: 23, of cate on the same occasion. near St Albans Station on July Dellfield, St Albans was fined 18. £100 and ordered to pay costs MATTHEW WARD: 39, of Furse of £62.50 for drunk and Avenue, was fined £200 and TV licence evasion disorderly behaviour in ordered to pay costs of £130 for Hatfield Road, St Albans, on driving without insurance in October 12. St Albans on May 1. KAREN CLARKE: 56, of Cairns Close, St Albans, was fined RYAN KAVANAGH: 20, of JOANNA WAREHAM: 37, of £200 and ordered to pay costs Dellfield, St Albans was fined Temple View, St Albans, was of £110 for using a TV without £73 and ordered to pay costs of fined £100, ordered to pay costs a licence at the above address £62.50 for drunk and disor- of £105 and awarded three on July 23. derly behaviour in Hatfield penalty points on her licence Road, St Albans, on October for driving without due care NATHANIEL RICHARDS: 29, of 12. and attention in St Albans on Riverside Road, St Albans, was April 24. fined £250 and ordered to pay RICHARD O’SULLIVAN: 50, of Drive24 has teamed up with Wilcodirect.co.uk costs of £115 for using a TV Swallow Lane, St Albans, was to bring you the perfect winter car gift. We NICHOLAS HOMAN: 53, of without a licence at the above committed to prison for 26 have a Mio MiVue 338 Dash Cam and 10 Drovers Lane, address on August 6. weeks for using threatening Wheathampstead, was fined and abusive laguage to Autoglym Winter Care Kits to give away to £545, ordered to pay costs of EMMA THOMSON: 33, of another prohibited by an our Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire readers! £139.50 and awarded five Chiltern Road, St Albans, was anti-social behaviour order in penalty points on his licence fined £200 and ordered to pay St Albans on October 17. He for driving without due care costs of £110 for using a TV was also committed to two First prize: and attention in without a licence at the above sentences of five weeks - Mio MiVue 338 Dash Cam with 8GB Wheathampstead on June 8. address between April 20 and concurrent for assaulting two Micro SD memory card, worth over £100 May 21. police officers in the execu- - Autoglym Winter Care Kit including CLAIRE DOYLE: 33, of White tion of their duties and a JESSICA WRIGLEY: 500ml Screen Wash, 500ml De-icer, Beams, Park Street, was fined 33, of further six weeks concurrent £200, ordered to pay costs of Watford Road, St Albans, was for sending a voicemail Premium Ice Scraper and Interior £105 and awarded three fined £200 and ordered to pay message conveying a threat Microﬁbre Cloth, RRP £14.99 penalty points for speeding on costs of £110 for using a TV for the purpose of causing - £10 gift voucher to use at the 30mph Watford Road, without a licence at the above distress. Wilcodirect.co.uk Chiswell Green, on March 14. address between July 2 and Runner-up prizes: August 3. Trespass BRIDGET BLACKBURN: 45, of - 10 runners-up will receive an Blue House Hill, St Albans, STEPHEN COADE: 34, of ARTHUR SMITH: 45, of Autoglym Winter Care Kit and a was fined £400, ordered to pay Shepherds Row, Redbourn, was Birchwood Way, Park Street, £10 Wilco Direct voucher costs of £125 and awarded five fined £37 and ordered to pay was committed to prison for 18 penalty points for driving at costs of £110 for using a TV weeks, suspended for 24 How to enter: 45mph on the 30mph Watford without a licence at the above months for entering a building Road, Chiswell Green, on on May 15. with intent to steal on October Visit www.drive24.co.uk and tell us how March 14. 5. many used cars are for sale on the site. ZALI MAHAMA: 43, of Submit your answer, along with your JERMAINE HARTLEY: 30, of The Driftwood Avenue, St Albans, ERNEST SMITH: 48, of Gorham name and address, through our entry form Uplands, Bricket Wood, was was fined £200 and ordered to Drive, St Albans, was commit- found at http://blog.drive24.co.uk fined £200 and ordered to pay pay costs of £110 for using a ted to prison for 18 weeks, suspended for 24 months for The competition closes on December 8th 2013. costs of £130 for driving TV without a licence at the For full terms and conditions go to http://blog.drive24.co.uk without insurance in St Albans above address between July 2 entering a building with on May 1. and August 3. intent to steal on October 5. I Magistrates aim to impose a sentence which primarily reflects the seriousness of the particular offence committed whilst taking into account the offender’s personal circumstances. Magistrates use guidelines issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council to assess seriousness and identify appropriate sentences. The guidelines can be viewed at www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

APPENDIX 4

4812/HP/RG/FINAL FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE NO. 23

PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

APPENDIX 5

4812/HP/RG/FINAL FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE NO. 24

A new secondary school for Harpenden questionnaire

Thank you for coming to visit the exhibition today. It would be helpful to us if you could answer the following questions, based on the information you have viewed at this exhibition.

yes maybe no

1. Do you agree that there is a need for additional secondary school places in Harpenden? y ? n

yes maybe no

2. Do you agree that the need for additional secondary school places is unlikely to be y ? n fully met through the expansion of existing Harpenden Secondary schools?

yes maybe no

3. Do you agree that a new secondary school site should be identified in Harpenden y ? n if no, why not?

yes maybe no

4. Do you agree that Site F should be identified as the preferred site for a new y ? n secondary school? if yes, why? if no, why not?

yes maybe no

5. Do you consider that there are other more appropriate sites for a new secondary school? y ? n if yes, where?

6. Please can you tell us whether you live within walking distance of:

Site A y n Site F y n Site G y n

7. Please can you tell us whether you 8. Please can you tell us if you are the holder of an have children below the age of 16 elected office (County Council, City and District in your household? Council, Town or Parish Council)? y n y n

please turn over additional response

About you (optional) Note: we do not need your details but it would help our understanding Please place this questionnaire in the box provided to know where you live. The information will be held as confidential and or return to Vincent and Gorbing Ltd (at the address no responses will be attributed to individuals when the results of this below) by Monday 9 December 2013 questionnaire are presented. Vincent and Gorbing Ltd Sterling Court, Norton Road, Stevenage, Name: Hertfordshire SG1 2JY or scan the completed questionnaire and email to Address: [email protected]

The exhibition material can be viewed until 5.00pm on Monday Postcode: 9 December 2013 at www.vincent-gorbing.co.uk/consultation

Thank you for completing the questionnaire. PROPOSED HARPENDEN SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT OF PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

APPENDIX 6

4812/HP/RG/FINAL FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE NO. 25

Vincent and Gorbing Sterling Court Norton Road Stevenage SG1 2JY t: +44 (0)1438 316 331 f: +44 (0)1438 722 035

www.vincent-gorbing.co.uk

Ruth Gray associate director [email protected]

4812/dt1140