HOPES that Wheathampstead Education Centre – the village s former secondary school – might be used for a purpose other than housing, finally seem to have been dashed. St Alban District Council has now received a formal planning application to demolish t

HOPES that Wheathampstead Education Centre - the village's former secondary school - might be used for a purpose other than housing, finally seem to have been dashed.

St Alban District Council has now received a formal planning application to demolish the buildings and put 30 houses per hectare on the site.

Outline planning consent for homes had been given many months ago but Wheathampstead people continued to hope that the site would not be sold to a housing developer.

But it was acquired by Persimmon Homes which has applied for permission build there.

Cllr Chris Oxley who represents the village on the district council, has fought to keep the buildings available for a reopened secondary school and strongly opposed the request by Herts County Council for permission to demolish the site and to obtain outline planning approval for more than 75 houses on the site.

He said: "I am very disappointed at the way in which Persimmon has erected very high and ugly hoarding without any consultation with either local councillors or residents and has now put in a planning application that is materially different from the outline consent such that it will have a major adverse impact on existing nearby residents."

Cllr Oxley added: "A public meeting has been organised at short notice on Wednesday, October 8, at the Hilldyke Centre at 8pm to enable residents to consider what are their key objections so that they can put up a consistent approach in relation to their reasoned opposition to the proposals. If due to the short notice residents are not able to attend the meeting they can contact me, preferably by e mail (Cllr.c.oxley@stalbans.gov.uk) to give their views and to learn of the results of the meeting.