Councillors have successfully won a bid to re-examine a decision to sell off land that was formerly used as a primary school.
A housing developer is interested in buying the space at the former Meriden School, but local politicians say the land should be retained for community use.
Last month, Hertfordshire County Council’s Conservative Cabinet agreed to “dispose” of the land, opening it up to redevelopment, but the decision was opposed.
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Liberal Democrat members in Meriden said the decision had been made “without the full facts” and secured a debate on the issue at a council overview and scrutiny meeting on May 16.
Meriden & Tudor county councillor, Steve Cavinder, who made the case at the meeting, made reference to a number of documents, including a 2007 masterplan, that he says demonstrates the land’s use for the community, which he says had not been made available to the Cabinet.
The committee decided to refer the decision back to Cabinet for further consideration, although a date has not yet been set.
Cllr Cavinder said: “Challenging the decision to sell this land for private housing was the right thing to do and I’m pleased the committee agreed with me. This is not the end of the road though and we’ll keep fighting for residents who firmly believe that promises should be kept and this land should be used for community use.”
County council officers say the masterplan has been "superseded" by Lib Dem-run Watford Borough Council's emerging Local Plan, which earmarks this land, the school on which closed in 2004, for housing.
Herts Living Ltd, a real estate standalone company of the council, is reportedly interested in the site and has submitted plans to Watford Borough Council to build nine homes, accessed via The Meadows.
Outlining how he and his colleagues would like the land to be used, Cllr Cavinder said: “We’re all in agreement it should be a community building or to open it up as an extension of Meriden Park.”
The former playing fields of Meriden School, which are also owned by the council, do not form part of the land being disposed.
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