MORE than 300 signatures were collected on Saturday for a petition opposing the relocation of a secondary school. Herts County Council plans to move The Thomas Alleyne School from Stevenage Old Town to land north of Mendip Way in Great Ashby, as part of t

MORE than 300 signatures were collected on Saturday for a petition opposing the relocation of a secondary school.

Herts County Council plans to move The Thomas Alleyne School from Stevenage Old Town to land north of Mendip Way in Great Ashby, as part of the wider Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.

The BSF programme is set to rebuild, remodel and relocate secondary schools, special schools and education support centres across the county, beginning in Stevenage in early 2011.

But the plans for The Thomas Alleyne School have divided Great Ashby residents, with some opposing and some supporting the relocation.

As part of a petition day on Saturday, those against the proposal held a picnic in the park behind Grampian Place - which will be turned into a car park and access road as part of the relocation.

Victoria Hughes, of Grampian Place, is part of an action group leading a campaign against the plans. She said: "The event was a huge success, collecting over 300 signatures against the relocation of the school.

"The community came together and, united, expressed that the plans must change.

"Some were concerned about the roads not being able to cope with the amount of traffic this new school will bring to Great Ashby, and others were upset over the loss of the park that is used by many residents."

A public meeting to discuss the plans will be held at Great Ashby Community Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 22.

To view details of the planning application, visit www.stevenage.gov.uk and search for application reference 09/00247/CC in the planning section of the website.

To object to, support, or comment on the relocation plans, write to Head of Planning and Regeneration, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 1HN, quoting the application reference number.

To sign a petition to either oppose or support the plans, visit www.gopetition.co.uk and search for 'stop the relocation of Thomas Alleyne School' or 'support the relocation of Thomas Alleyne School'.

A petition objecting to the plans will also be available to sign at the public meeting.