THE head of schools in Surrey has said she thinks a wedge of green belt land in Merstham is the right site for a new primary.
At a meeting last week, Linda Kemeny, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for children and learning, selected the Surrey-based Glyn Learning Foundation as the preferred organisation to run the new primary as an academy, and sanctioned the choice of a site in Battlebridge Lane.
Many residents have strongly opposed the selection of this location, stating it is on a dangerous road, will add to congestion woes, and result in the loss of green belt land.
The report to last Wednesday's cabinet member meeting was the first to state that the council "will" build a school on the site – although it will need to give itself planning permission first.
"The school will offer 60 reception places in September 2013 and would initially operate from an existing school site in Alexander Road, Reigate, before being transferred to purpose-built accommodation on Battlebridge Lane, Merstham," it stated, adding that the transfer could take "a number of years".
Nick Smith, the council's strategic director of children, schools and families, said a countywide increase in demand for primary school places had been "most acutely felt" in Reigate and Banstead, and the council had been forced to provide more additional places here than anywhere else in Surrey.
There were "a number of issues" in relation to the contested Battlebridge Lane site, he added.
In reply, Mrs Kemeny said: "I visited the site so I do know it.
"Although there are issues there, it is certainly a suitable area for a school to be placed. You haven't given a lot of detail in this report about other sites – clearly the decision was taken [to go with that site], that is where we are."
The council expects to submit a planning application early in the new year.
But residents who oppose the site choice say they fear it is already a "done deal".
Geoff Soper, who owns a factory on the nearby Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, assessed the site – which borders the A23 – as "grim".
"I think this has been made almost impossible to fight," he added. "The council is only offering one site, there are no alternatives, it is all or nothing. It makes it very hard to fight because clearly we have to have a school."
The preferred provider to run the new primary school currently runs a secondary and a junior school in Epsom and Ewell. Describing her decision to recommend The Glyn Learning Foundation as the academy provider for the new primary, Cllr Linda Kemeny said: "I think it is a great opportunity to create a Surrey solution and have the Glyn, which is an outstanding school, supporting and sponsoring a school within Surrey and maintaining it as part of our Surrey family. "I think it is very valuable and I am glad we have the opportunity, and I am hopeful the Department for Education (DfE) will agree." The decision will need to be sanctioned by the Government in the new year. Four other bidders submitted applications to take on the school. Jon Chaloner, executive head teacher of Glyn School and Danetree Junior School, both part of the foundation, said: "We are pleased to be confirmed as Surrey's preferred provider for the new primary academy in Redhill, although we now await final approval from the DfE. "We are excited by this opportunity to work with the local authority and contribute to primary education in the Redhill and Reigate area. We are committed to creating a community school, working with people in the local area to make sure the children receive the very best. We look forward to the final decision with interest."