Proposed Schools' Relocation - Information  Map  Updated!

A report from the Bishop's Stortford Carnival held on 21 June 2008  Top 

On 21st June 2008, members of Bishop's Stortford Civic Federation and two Thorley Residents Associations joined the carnival fun on Sworder's Field and set up a colourful stall with green balloons and badges to attract the attention of towns people enjoying the day. BSCF exists to look after the interests of town and wherever possible save it from the worst of the planners' follies. The current campaign is in opposition to the proposals put forward by the school governing bodies of The Boys' High and Herts & Essex Girls schools to relocate to green belt farmland in Thorley and sell off their vacated land for housing to Countryside Properties developers in order to fund the rebuilding.

Hundreds of people visited the stall, where maps were on display and leaflets and objection letters were offered to supporters. People had the opportunity to sign two petitions: one against the proposed new school at Whittington Way and associated housing plans; the other requesting the county council to provide a school on the reserved Hadham Road site.

Thorley campaigners reported as follows. We collected signatures from about 700 people. There seemed to be three groups: those who knew what was going on and at one point were queueing up to sign; those who were very alarmed and anxious to know more about whom they could write to and what could they do; and those (mainly parents of young families, many of whom had failed to get children into schools of their choice) who knew only what they read in newspapers, had mixed feelings and couldn't be sure about what to do for the best for their children.

Among views often heard were that another community school needed to be built and that the Boys High was selected as first choice not because parents felt strongly about single sex schools but because it was a criterion to use to try to get children into the best local school. All the campaigners found themselves talking nonstop to people wanting to know more or give their own views, and it was clear that only a very small percentage of people, less than 5%, were not interested in signing, often because they did not live in the area.

One campaigner, Sarah-Jane Pyne, said she was surprised by the broad spectrum of people lending their support which was given for a number of different reasons, the principal ones including:

• Pressure on transport with 3000 people trying to get to one area in town at the same time
• The principle of building on green belt land
• Not wanting almost 1000 extra homes in a town with an infrastructure that is already under pressure

Of those she asked to sign the petition, only 3 people refused, giving the following reasons:

• "I like the idea of the two schools combining to become co-ed"
• "Can't avoid building on green belt forever - the population is growing"
• "I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'm for or against the plan"

Some reference material outlining objections to the proposed schools' relocation  Top 

The future of schools is vitally important for Bishop's Stortford. It is crucial that you make your views known before it's too late.