Oliver on Friday met with Cllr David Williams, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council to discuss education in Hertsmere.
The meeting was convened by Oliver and covered a number of issues, including primary school places in Potters Bar and a new secondary school for the Borough.
Speaking this week after the meeting, Oliver said: ‘It was good to meet with Cllr Williams and I used the opportunity to press him on making sure that Hertsmere gets the education resources it needs.
‘On Potters Bar, I raised the concerns of my constituents over the availability of good primary school places. I was pleased to hear that there remains an overall surplus of places in the town and that there are plans to add additional capacity over the next few years should demand continue to grow. This will likely mean initially adding a new form to an existing school, or in the longer term, a new school being opened.
‘We also discussed the need for a new secondary school, mainly to serve Radlett, Borehamwood and Bushey. With Hertsmere’s Local Plan anticipating around 400 new homes a year over the next decade, it is essential we begin planning now for the infrastructure to go with them.
‘The County Council is very much aware of this and is working closely with Hertsmere Borough Council to deliver new school places. Again, at first, this will likely mean adding new capacity to existing schools, before looking to open new schools in the medium to long term. Sites will need to be found for these and this is something I will be discussing with the Borough Council directly at my upcoming meeting on the next stage of the Local Plan update.’
The meeting with Cllr Williams comes as a follow up to Oliver’s meeting with Cllr Terry Douris, the County Council Cabinet Member for Education, at the end of last year.
Oliver added: ‘I am very glad to see the County Council are actively working on this issue have plans in place to give every child in Hertsmere a good school place. I will continue to work closely with the County Council on behalf of my constituents.’
