Hatfield Councillors have voiced concerns after it was announced that the move of Southfield Special School to a temporary site near the former Howe Dell school off Woods Avenue, will be going ahead in spite of the fact that the application for the waste incinerator has been called in by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Hertfordshire County Council plans a 4 million pound move for the School whilst the incinerator, which has yet to receive approval and faces a lengthy public enquiry, is under construction. After the waste plant is up and running, it is envisaged the school will return to its home in South Hatfield.
Work is going ahead now so that the building will be ready for the start of the next academic year in order to minimize the disruption to the children.
Hatfield West Councillor Cathy Watson said “I think we have to respect the views of the school’s teaching staff and governors on this matter, as their prime concern is the well-being of the children.“ adding “I think it is a great pity that HCC didn’t give greater consideration to the inevitable disruption which will occur when the school moves in September, I hope the school hours will be staggered between the different schools on Woods Avenue to keep traffic congestion to a minimum.”
Long serving Hatfield Central Councillor Maureen Cook said “I would say that the County Council are wasting £4million of public money on an unnecessary move and it would be much better to leave the school where it is until the outcome of the call in of the planning decision. I’m worried about the effect this will have on the school-time traffic along Woods Avenue“
When asked for comment, South Hatfield Councillor Kieran Thorpe blasted the County Council saying "When it comes to the wellbeing of the children at the School,  no-one should listen to a Council that is planning to build a waste incinerator next door to their playground. A waste of money, children needlessly unsettled, and a traffic nightmare waiting to happen. What a shambles.”