STORY
Essex County Council has promised to challenge the Government’s decision to cancel a new primary school planned for Witham.
The Lodge Farm Free School had been expected to provide 420 primary school places for children on the 750-home Lodge Farm development in the north of the town, along with a 56-place nursery. The council said the Government notified it in December that it planned to cancel the long-awaited project, before confirming that decision on 21 May.
Councillor Peter Harris, the council’s leader-elect, described the decision as disappointing and short-sighted, saying it would affect a rapidly growing community already under pressure for school places. Essex County Council said it would write directly to the Government to challenge the decision and continue making the case for local investment.