The developer building St James’ Park has been urged to tackle traffic concerns before the new Bishop’s Stortford High School (TBSHS) opens in September.
Cllr Graham McAndrew, a member of East Herts district and Herts county councils, is pressing Countryside to come up with solutions before the academic year ends next month and the school summer holidays begin.
The Conservative said he had been waiting three weeks for traffic management answers.
The relocated school at Beaumont Avenue is a key part of the 750-home St James' Park estate, formerly known as Bishop's Stortford South.
Currently, the London Road secondary, rated outstanding by Ofsted, has a roll of about 1,200 students with single-sex education for boys in Years 7 to 11 and a co-educational sixth form where a third of the pupils are girls.
The new campus off Whittington Way will increase capacity, enabling the secondary to admit 180 pupils a year – six forms of entry (6FE) – rather than the current maximum of 156. That means 900 pupils in Years 7 to 11 and 400 sixth-formers with the potential to expand to support the proposed scale of new housing in the area.
Cllr McAndrew said: “I initially emailed the Community St James Liaison Team on June 3, highlighting the urgent need to address the parking of vehicles on walkways and cycleways along Beaumont Avenue, ensuring safe access for the expected 1,300 students and staff.”
He followed up the next day and got a “positive response” and a promise to share maps and traffic management plans.
But this week he said: “I am still awaiting the actual meeting and detailed plans. This delay is concerning, as it is crucial to communicate effective and safe access arrangements to the school community.”
The summer holidays begin on July 18 for high school students and staff. Cllr McAndrew, also a school governor, said: “While I understand the complexities involved in such developments, it is imperative for the developers to expedite their communication and coordination efforts.
“Prompt action will ensure that the transition for Bishop’s Stortford High School to its new site is as smooth and safe as possible for students, staff, and the local community.
“I urge the relevant parties to schedule the necessary meeting within the next couple of weeks and to provide the much-needed traffic management plans.
“Doing so will allow us to inform the school community well in advance and ensure a successful start to the new school year in September. Time is running short.”
He feared that without a clear plan, there could be a conflict with construction vehicles, similar to the problems at St Michael’s Hurst, where parents collecting pupils from the new Avanti Grange secondary school now face a £100 fine for stopping on Newland Avenue.
The Bishop’s Stortford High School has already made plans with Herts and Essex county councils and the Arriva bus company for routes to serve the new campus.